Chapter Text
Phoenix’s own turnabout is nothing like the turnabouts he creates in court.
Those turnabouts are wild and dramatic, with the flair that makes his courtroom tactics practically infamous. He pins down the truth and refuses to let go - and it all happens within the span of a couple of hours. And when the turnabout comes, it hits you in the face, and suddenly the court is adjourned and the truth is known.
It’s turning the case on its head. Flipping it on its side and figuring out the truth. It’s blowing away the courtroom with your logic that somehow seems flawed but reveals the truth in the end. Phoenix is a mastermind at changing perspectives.
This, however, is nothing like that.
Recovery’s slow, grueling, and monotonous. It’s almost painful - almost makes Phoenix want to lock himself in a room and go back to the way things were.
But he’s already thrown away the key.
There is no going back.
-
Trucy and Miles help him back to the apartment.
It feels so familiar yet so different. He recognized the place but felt as if he also did not recognize it. Everything looked the same, save for Maya and Pearl’s little adjustments here and there, but it’s still recognizable as the place he’s lived in. But there’s something slightly off about it, or maybe it’s just his perspective change. For him, everything feels unreal and uncanny and like a different reality.
But when Miles decides to stay and cook them dinner while Trucy helps Phoenix settle back in and relax, it’s... everything feels like it’s just been flipped upside down.
It’s home.
But what is a home?
That’s the question that’s been haunting him.
-
“Mr. Wright!” A familiar voice calls out.
Phoenix laughs nervously, turning around. “Ah. Hello...”
The judge frowns. “Are you feeling alright? Should you even be taking any cases right now? Don’t hurt yourself, now.”
“I’m not taking a case, but thank you. I’m actually watching Apollo and Athena’s case.”
“Oh, those two? I’ll be overseeing that case with Mr. Justice and Ms. Cykes as well. Yes, yes, they’re quite like you. Passionate, driven, maybe a little crazy with ideas, but...”
“But?”
“They greatly admire you. Your influence shines brightly within them; really, they’re just like little versions of you... And we need more of that in our court system.”
Phoenix blinks, then gives him a nervous smile.
“Gee, uh, thanks.”
“I’ll see you around, Mr. Wright,” the judge gives him a small smile. “Take care of yourself, now.”
Phoenix blinks as he walks away.
“I will,” he mutters.
-
“Wright!”
Phoenix spins around, glancing back.
“... E-Edgeworth?”
Outside of the courtroom, he’s about to grab his bike and head back to the agency while Apollo and Athena continue their investigation.
Miles looks at him for a second, the moment spreading thin as the two of them hold eye contact for a little longer than socially acceptable for friends.
Phoenix doesn’t know what to make of that, but it’s always been like that. He just looks at Miles and suddenly everything blurs around the two of them.
“Are you and Trucy free tonight?”
“As far as I know. Why?”
Miles swallows slightly. An untrained eye wouldn’t have noticed it, but Phoenix definitely did.
“Come over for dinner.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. Tonight.”
He’s being nice. He's a friend. He has no ulterior motives. He’s not pitying me. Miles cares about me. He cares about me and Trucy. He cares.
I just need to remember that.
Phoenix gives him a small grin. “I’d like that.”
-
Change your perspective.
-
Mr. Wright! I hope you get well, and that you’ve been hearing me this entire time! I’ve been dropping stories about everyone - the WAA, the Prosecutor’s Office, everyone!
But really, I hope you’re gonna be fine. (Like Polly, and his “I’m Fine!!”)
I know I probably sound like a broken record. And I’m not trying to be your armchair psychologist, but it’s okay to admit that things get bad, that you’re not perfect, that sometimes everything seems bleak.
I just want you to know that we’re here. That I’m here. That it’s okay.
-
“Mr. Wright!” A sharp voice comes through the phone.
“Athena? What’s up - need help with the investigation?”
She sighs. “Well, yes? No. Mr. Wright, we’re looking for the box that we placed on Polly’s desk literally this morning - do you know where it is?”
“... I’m not in the office currently. Haven’t been since we left for the trial.”
“Huh. Maybe I’ll ask Trucy.”
“Check the storage room? It may have been accidentally put in there. Or-- maybe, it might be hiding under his desk? Someone else’s desk?”
“Mr. Wright, it’s okay. We’ll look for it. We’ll find it. You don’t need to come with the answer to help us out. It’s just enough that you helped, you know? Don’t feel pressured to always know everything. It’s a hassle on yourself, first and foremost.”
Phoenix blinks.
“Sorry, that got a little deep. In any case, where are you right now anyway?”
“... Uh. I’m biking back to the office.”
“You’re--- you’re calling me while biking?!”
“... Yes?”
“Get off the phone, Mr. Wright.”
“Ah, geez, okay, okay, sorry.”
-
“Daddy, do we have any pi dan left?” Trucy peers around the doorframe, frowning. “Maybe we could have some congee for dinner.”
He moves to get up. “We can check in the fridge.”
Phoenix opens the fridge and glances at the ingredients. It all blurs around him and he vaguely feels his daughter’s presence behind him, watching his every move.
He steps back, smiling at Trucy. “... Uh, hey, Truce. Could you... could you look for me?”
Trucy blinks. “What?”
“I...” I’m just not feeling so well right now. Oh, look, I have to go take this phone call. Uh--
Athena’s voice whispers in his head, It’s okay to admit that things get bad.
Phoenix closes his eyes, furrowing his brows.
Looking inside the fridge to wonder if we have any food, if it’ll last, if we can truly even survive the month, it all brings me back, brings me back to-
“I need you to look to see if we have any. I... looking in the fridge makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Truce gives him a small smile. “Of course, Daddy.”
She looks inside, and a few moments later, she turns back to say, “It looks like we ate the last of it.”
Phoenix nods.
Failure, failure, failure, failure--
... No. Stop that.
“... Well, I know we still have some... haam yu, right? We could still have congee with salted fish. Plus, we still have regular eggs, right? That works as well.”
“Do we still have ingredients to make youtiao?” Trucy perks up. “That would also be good to eat with congee.”
Phoenix chuckles lowly, ruffling at Trucy’s hair (while she protests weakly), “Of course, Truce. Let me go get ready--”
“Let’s cook together!”
Phoenix gives her a smile. “Yeah?”
“Everything’s more fun together; wouldn’t you agree, Daddy? Now, let’s go and conquer dinner!”
-
Mr. Wright, I have so many words to say but I don’t know how to say them.
I just wish I could have been there. I know how it feels to be alone, trust me. I understand exactly how that feels. And I hate that you have to feel the same way that I did for years. I just want you to know that we do care about you. I just wish we could be there for you the way that you’ve been here for us. I’m not asking you to open up to us immediately. That’s not it at all. I just... I just wish that things could be easier.
I just want to help. And maybe I do see you as my mentor/father figure, but can you really blame me?
... For what it’s worth, I think you’re a great dad.
Thanks, Mr. Wright.
-
“Hey, we should go celebrate!”
“What-- it’s only lunchtime, and it’s only the first day of the trial??”
“Come on, Polly,” Athena giggles. “Don’t be a stick in the mud.”
“Yeah, Polly,” Trucy pouts, looking away. “Besides, it’s lunchtime and we’re starving!”
“Come on, Apollo. Cut them a break. It’s been a wild morning,” Phoenix quips, pulling out his wallet.
Apollo blinks.
Phoenix blinks back at him.
“Hey,” Phoenix starts talking again, slipping the wallet back into his pocket. “You know that little restaurant that opened just a few blocks from here?”
“The one that Ema talked about the other day?”
“Yes. We should head there for lunch, don’t you think?”
“I’m down for it, honestly.”
“Me too, Mr. Wright!”
“Alright, guess that’s settled,” Phoenix starts down the sidewalk, Athena and Trucy following him eagerly.
“Why did no one bother to ask me?” Apollo sweats.
“You would have lost anyway, Polly. This is a direct democracy - three against one!”
“... This country isn’t even a direct democracy,” he mumbles, following them reluctantly.
-
“Apollo? Why’d you burst in here--”
“Ah, uhm. Herr Wright!”
“... Apollo, what’s going on?”
“I would also like to know, Apollo.”
“You two are on a first-name basis?”
“Yes?”
“Oh, for god’s sake, can you two... talk?”
Silence.
“Alright,” Apollo steps back. “I’m leaving you two to talk. If I come back in fifteen minutes and you’re both dead, I’m going to drag you both back to the living world to talk again. After killing you again and bringing you back to life again, of course.”
The door slams shut.
Phoenix blinks. “Uh, so--”
“I’m sorry, Herr Wright.”
Phoenix stills. “You’re... sorry? For what?”
“Do I really have to say?”
Phoenix grins. “Well, that’s always a start. Opening up. Admitting you have feelings. Talking them through with someone. Showing someone that you do care, that you do mean the things that you say.”
Klavier nods curtly. “Right. Of course, Herr Wright.”
And then they talk.
Apollo comes in half an hour later to see the two of them laughing and joking like old buddies. Phoenix pretends not to notice, but he sees Apollo out of the corner of his eye, leaning against the doorframe, smiling and sighing with relief.
-
Nick!!
Listen up, you’re loved, alright! Don’t forget it!
I know it feels like we don’t talk often, and I’m sorry. But you really do mean a lot to me, Nick. You saved me. You’ve saved so many people. You helped solved Mia’s murder. You saved me from being accused of her murder. You saved Edgeworth Miles from von Karma’s plan -- and, really, from himself. You saved Pearl, you saved me again, you-- you always save other people.
Do I really need to mention how you helped me in my life, how you gave me courage and passion? That you were there for Pearl when no one else was, when I couldn’t be there, when you could have simply walked away? That you saved your rival prosecutor, even though he seemed to hate your guts? That although you had a right to be so mad at Miss Iris, but you... didn’t? That you never blamed Mr. Armando for what he did?
Despite all of this, you were given the short end of the stick. But you stuck through. You survived, raised a wonderful daughter, all of that. You didn’t stop being a good person. And that’s… it’s beautiful to see that.
... There is just so much goodness and heroism in your heart, Nick. So much, that you’ve changed so many lives - of everyone around you. Look around. You’re not alone.
I just wish you could see that we’re willing to give the same to you.
-
“The journal,” Phoenix says bluntly as soon as they’re in a room together, alone. It’s blunt, straight to the point, yet still a little vague, but he knows that Maya would appreciate him not beating around the bush.
“Yeah, the journal,” Maya responds vaguely. “Do you like it?”
Phoenix gives her a small grin, sitting down on the couch. “I do.”
Maya fidgets with the can of Diet Coke in her hands, looking down fascinated as if she had never seen it before in her life, despite always drinking it often.
“... I’ve been told that you came up with the idea.”
“Mhm. Told Miles about it on the first day.”
“It’s a lot,” Phoenix admits. “The journal.”
Maya frowns.
“Not in a bad way, of course,” he quickly amends his statement. He looks away. “It’s just a lot to read. I can barely get through two pages without --- well, I suppose that doesn’t matter. I just can’t seem to come to terms with it.”
“With what?” Maya looks back up, confused.
“... With the fact that all of this was written for me, I guess? Just processing. I guess I should be talking about it with my therapist, once I get that settled. My initial meeting is coming up soon.”
“Well,” Maya shrugs. “I am here for you. You can tell me anything, you know that, right, Nick?”
Phoenix gives her a smile.
“Yeah. Thanks, Maya. Not just for this, but for...”
“For?”
Phoenix grins.
“Everything.”
-
When Pearl and Franziska come back from their grocery shopping for Franziska’s new apartment in the area, they both announce their presence with a door slam.
Phoenix jumps.
“Oh, that’s probably Fran and Pearly. Fran? Pearly?”
“Master Maya, we’re back!”
Maya runs over to help Franziska, who just appeared in the doorway carrying two large, seemingly heavy bags.
“Hnk. I can handle this, Maya--”
“I just want to help--”
To Phoenix’s surprise, she gives one of the bags to Maya and they both haul the bags into the kitchen. Phoenix’s first instinct was that she would insist to do it on her own, but--
Look around, you’re not alone.
Maya’s words echo through his brain.
“H-Hey, Mr. Nick.”
Phoenix perks back up, looking at Pearl. “Pearls! Is something wrong?”
Pearls bursts into tears.
“Pearls?!”
“What’s wrong?!” Maya rushes back into the living room, going over to her sobbing cousin. “Pearly, what’s wrong? Shh... what’s the matter?”
Pearl just continues bawling, clutching onto Phoenix’s arm.
“Uhm, Pearly-”
“Maya, I’ll handle this.”
Phoenix looks up to see Franziska standing behind Maya, expressionless and stoic as usual. Maya steps back, heading back towards the kitchen slowly.
As soon as she’s out of sight, Franziska pats Pearl’s back and sits on the other side of Phoenix.
“Phoenix Wright.”
Phoenix gulps.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m not here to scold you.”
Phoenix glances down.
“Or whip you. Phoenix Wright, stop interrupting me with your nonverbal cues -- now!” She crosses her arms haughtily. “... Surely you must realize that Miss Pearl has something to say to you.”
Phoenix looks down at Pearl, who is glancing up at him.
“Pearls? Would you like to talk?”
She nods.
Damn, she knows her stuff.
“I just-- Mr. Nick, I don’t even know what to say!! You know we care about you, right?” Pearl starts bawling, but continues to stammer out, “Y-you know that, right? Right? I mean, I’ve always looked up to you. And I think you’re great and smart and persistent, and, and, well, I wouldn’t be who I am without you, so thank you.”
Phoenix glances over at Franziska.
“Don’t be a fool - why are you looking at me?”
Phoenix glances down at Pearl again. “Hey, Pearl, come on, sit up here with me.”
She moves to do so, her sobs now silent and less erratic, but the tears keep dripping down her face in waves anyway.
“Pearls, I’m sorry for what happened. I care about you too, and I know that you care about me as well.” Phoenix frowns, pulling her into a hug. “I’m just glad I got to help.”
Pearl sniffs. “Don’t be sorry - I don’t want to... to... blame you. For what happened. Master Maya says it’s because sometimes your brain is mean to you. I wish it would stop being mean to you. Doesn’t it know how good of a person you are? That doesn’t make any sense; don’t listen to your brain, Mr. Nick. We all know that you’re -- that you’re special and important.”
Phoenix gulps.
“Oh, Pearls.”
“Aha, now you see, Phoenix Wright,” Franziska whispers slowly.
Phoenix acknowledges her statement with a sideways glance.
“You are special and important to many people in your life. Don’t be a fool. You may be a fool, but certainly, you can’t be this foolish. Look around at the people in your life,” she murmurs, gesturing down at Pearl. “There are people willing to help you, that you have helped before. There are people that care about you. Only a fool would blind themselves to the family right in front of them.”
Phoenix grasps tighter onto Pearl, tears flowing down his face.
“Right. Of course. I just need to remember that.”
Franziska nods, moving to stand up.
Before she can do so, Phoenix moves to pull her into the hug as well.
“Hng! Phoenix Wright, you--!”
“I care about you too, Franziska,” he gives as a response.
Franziska doesn’t protest further, so the three of them stay there for a while, in each other’s embraces.
-
Nicky, dude, it’s Larry.
I know you’re reading this, which means you’re alive. At least, I think ghosts can’t read books. Can they? I don’t know - I’d ask a ghost, but Edgey just texted me back saying that ‘that’s impossible, also stop bothering me, Larry.’ (Rude!)
... Anyway... where do I begin? We’ve been best friends forever, haven’t we? I really don’t want it to end now, please, dude. I know--- I might be acting a little selfish, but can you blame me? It’s always been us. I mean, sure, Edgey wasn’t around for a good decade or so, but it’s always been the three of us. We’ve changed each other a lot, but it’s not in a bad way or anything. I just can’t imagine what it’d be like to be a trio downgrading to a duo.
Wake up, Nicky. Then we can continue making memories as a trio for the rest of time.
-
“Larry, let me just--”
“Nope. No. I’m not letting you do this.”
“This is my suitcase.”
“Yeah? Don’t exert yourself, dude. I got it. Don’t worry about me -- woagh!”
Phoenix gives Larry a blank face once he hits the bottom of the stairs. “You alright? I told you it was fine, I know you don’t like stairs--”
Larry gets up, grabbing the suitcase. “It’s fine!”
“Larry.”
“Hm?”
“It was reasonable when you said you could help me with bringing my new bookshelf into my office. It was reasonable when you said you could help me help out Trucy with her giant magic prop. However, following me around and doing all the work for me isn’t reasonable, Larry.”
“Sure is! What’s a friend for, huh?”
“Well, I don’t like being pitied, alright? Just give me back the suitcase.”
“I’m not pitying you, dude!”
“Yeah, Larry? Then what is this? Explain to me, Larry, if this isn’t pity, then what is it?!”
“Look, I just--” Larry huffs. “I care about you, dude, alright? You’re my best friend. And best friends look after each other. So that’s what I’m doing. I’m not doing this out of obligation, I’m not doing this because I pity you, I’m doing this because I care about you and your well-being. I care about you as a human being, as a friend, as someone- as someone who I seriously just care about so much.”
Phoenix blinks at him.
“And as your friend, I want to do all I can to lift your burdens. And well, I can’t take away your pain. I can’t take away your thoughts. I can’t take away this pain. I wish I could, Nicky, but normal men can’t do that. I can’t do that. But if there’s something I can do, then I’ll do it. Even if it means following you around and doing all your dirty work for you, then so be it!”
Phoenix goes silent at that.
Larry lets out a sigh. “Sorry. That was a lot. Shouldn’t have yelled. But I do want to help.”
Phoenix gives him a small smile. “I mean, hey. What are friends for, right?”
Larry returns the grin tenfold.
“Right!” He marches down the stairs again. “Here we go to your office--”
“I can handle a suitcase, Larry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” Phoenix grabs it back. “After all, there’s a handle on it, right?”
Larry groans dramatically, following Phoenix down the stairs. “That’s the Nicky we all know and love. Welcome back, dad-joke king.”
“I’m glad to be back,” Phoenix laughs. “It’s really good to be back.”
-
The office door bursts open.
“Wh-- do we have five boxes of instant ramen with legs as a visitor, or am I just having a fever dream? Hey, hey, Polly, pinch me.”
“Athena, don’t be ridiculous, look. Socks with sandals? That’s definitely Mr. Wright.”
“Apollo’s right!” Phoenix calls over the boxes. “It’s just me!”
“Do you need help, Mr. Wright?”
“No, I’ll be fine--”
As soon as he says that, Phoenix almost trips over a wire. He regains his balance but the top box falls over onto the ground.
“Clearly not. Here, let us help you.” Apollo sighs, going over to pick up the box of noodles.
Athena giggles, grabbing two from Mr. Wright’s stack. “Where shall we put these, boss?”
Phoenix smiles, pushing down the feeling of, you don’t need help, why would you need help, you don’t deserve help, just do it on your own, god you’re pathe ---
“I was hoping to keep them in the snack closet over there, just in case we need it during a rough day.”
Apollo opens the door, placing it inside.
“I think that’s a good idea,” Apollo says, stepping back so that Athena and Phoenix can place the rest of the boxes inside. “Even unhealthy sustenance is better than no sustenance, right?”
“Ugh, tell me about it,” Athena grimaces. “I got through college subsisting on instant ramen.”
“Me too,” Phoenix grins widely. “It’s the college experience, isn’t it, at least in this country.”
“Yeah, but as good as it is...” Apollo frowns.
“Definitely need more nutrients than that.”
“Which is why we have chips and cookies in there too!”
Everyone whips around to stare at Trucy: Apollo in shock, Athena in disbelief, and Phoenix in mild surprise.
“You’ve been there the whole time?” Apollo seems taken aback.
She grins widely. “Yep!”
“Chips and cookies and instant ramen are not sustainable as a diet, Trucy.”
“I know that, but let a girl dream, can’t you? Besides, I’m almost off to college-”
“Aw, Trucy’s growing up!”
“Athena, stop it. You’re almost as bad as Daddy.”
Phoenix frowns. “I take offense to that.”
“You better not live only on instant ramen, Trucy, or I’m going to come and cook you decent meals.”
“Ooh, I’ll come too.”
“Oh, is this an agency thing?” Phoenix grins widely. “I want to come.”
“I don’t even know if I’m going to a place that has a kitchen.”
“Then we’ll do it at my place, assuming you’re going to be local, at least.”
“Dream school is in this city, so probably!”
“Alright. At least every other week, possibly more, depending on the situation. Apollo’s place. Everyone’s invited. Let me pre-invite some people at the Prosecutor’s office--”
“Athena!”
Phoenix and Trucy just laugh as Apollo tries his best to stop Athena from making his apartment host an entire party every other weekend.
-
Daddy?
... I don’t even know what to say.
I miss you a lot. I’m sorry if when you come back that your bed might be a little messy. I slept in it last night because I just missed you so much.
I remember that when I was younger, you promised that you wouldn’t leave me. You promised that no matter what, nothing could tear me from you.
I guess a possible eating disorder and cardiac arrest wasn’t really in the plan, was it?
I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but here I am, crying anyway. It feels like I cry every day without you here. I miss you kissing me good night, even though we don’t do goodnight kisses that often anymore. I miss you teasing me but making sure that I know that it’s all a joke. I miss you comforting me through the bad days, miss you petting my hair, miss your hugs, your…. Well, you. I miss you, Daddy.
I keep accidentally thinking to myself, well, if you don’t come back, and if you don’t make it, and if you... die... But I need to stop thinking that. I know you’re going to come back, you promised me!!
... Maybe it was selfish for me to hold you to such a promise.
I can’t lose another parent, Daddy. I can’t.
If God is real and God exists, then grant me one wish, just this one wish. I’ll never ask for anything again if you grant me this. I haven’t asked for anything in years, so please, just give me this one thing and I’ll never be selfish again.
Please come back to us, Daddy.
Please come back to me.
-
“Daddy?”
Phoenix blinks in the darkness of his own bedroom.
“Trucy?”
She stands in the doorway, the light shining behind her. She looks young again, like the little girl crying because she missed her mom and her biological dad, like that little girl that he adopted because he knew that he couldn’t let her go to foster care, not with the experiences that he had there--
“Trucy, what’s wrong, sweetie?” Phoenix yawns, slowly moving out of bed.
She rushes towards him, jumping into his arms and his embrace.
Phoenix blinks in surprise but brings his arms around her slowly. Her hugs always feel like magic, and for a little bit, Phoenix almost forgets that he saw the shine of tear-streaks down her cheek. For a moment, it feels like the whole world disappears.
“I had a nightmare again,” she mumbles into his shirt.
“A nightmare?” He slowly leads both of them to the bed, sitting them both down on it. “Do you want to tell me what it was?”
“I -- I dreamed that you left, that you were gone,” Trucy sniffles.
“Oh, Truce,” Phoenix frowns. “Truce, I’m here, alright? I won’t leave you. I--”
Trucy shakes her head. “I know, but it’s so scary, Daddy. I thought you were gone and I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you. I --- I had this dream before, the last nightmare I had. It was you leaving, but this time it was worse and I woke up and- and I thought you really were gone, and I--”
Phoenix rubs gentle circles into her back, his heart breaking with every sob that comes out of his daughter. He swallows thickly, unsure of how to proceed but --
“I love you, Trucy Wright.” Phoenix tries his best to ignore his own tears. “You’re my beautiful, sweet, talented, amazing daughter. I love you. I will fight to the bitter end to not leave you.”
Trucy wipes away her tears. “Can I---”
“Yes, Truce?”
“Can I sleep here tonight?”
Phoenix blinks.
“I know I’m not a little kid anymore, but I just want to know that you’re here. I don’t-- I need to know-- that you’re here, and that everything’s going to be okay, and that-- that you’re not gone.”
Phoenix gives her a small smile. “Of course, Truce.”
He lays back down, and Trucy continues to hold onto him tightly.
He doesn’t mind at all.
“Everything’s going to be okay, Truce. I promise you.”
Trucy nods slightly. “I believe you.”
They both drift off together.
-
“... Phoenix?”
Phoenix gives her a grin.
“... Iris.”
“I haven’t seen you since...”
“Since three months after the end of that case.”
She nods curtly.
“You’ve come to see me then?”
“I have. I don’t know if you get news up here.”
“Only very late. I learn about celebrity deaths approximately three months after they happen.”
Phoenix gives her a small grin. “Yeah. You’ve probably heard a lot of things.”
“... Well, I don’t make it a point to look at the news. I did hear something about a jury trial, which is interesting. And your name was written there too.”
Phoenix grins. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Sure,” Iris says, giving him a small, patient smile. “But I hope you’ll allow me to ask you a simple question before we catch up.”
“Of course. What is it?”
“Why now?”
“Hm?”
“Why now, after a decade, have you decided to talk to me again?”
Phoenix gives her a sheepish grin.
“I thought you had hated me. Which is understandable, considering what I did. I’m long over it, and I hold no hard feelings. But… you must admit this is rather out-of-nowhere, to meet your... not-really-ex after a decade of no communication whatsoever.”
“... I was in the hospital last week.”
“... You what?”
“I was... in a coma. For a week. Cardiac arrest. Possible eating disorder. No diagnosis yet, but I’m getting my first therapy appointment next week.”
Iris’ eyes grow wide. “... Oh gosh. Are you alright, Feenie?”
Phoenix gives her a small grin. “It’s getting there.”
Iris frowns. “... I don’t mean to be pushy but that doesn’t answer my question.”
“Right,” Phoenix laughs. “I just... I’ve just come to terms with quite a few things.”
“Like what?”
“... That I had abandoned you. You’re out of jail now, back in this place, but-- I was trapped in a pit of shame. I lost my badge shortly after your trial--”
“... What?”
“It’s a long story. Either way, I had lost it and then adopted this kid who had nowhere else to go. I felt a lot of shame in the next seven years. A lot of shame, and pain, and regret, and disgust. And it took a toll on me. I know this doesn’t excuse my actions, but for what it’s worth, I never forgot you. There were times where I thought about talking to you, but the shame grew too much. I’m sorry, Iris. I just want to... reconnect, I guess. There’s a lot that’s happened in the past decade, but abandoning you was a mistake I wouldn’t want to make again. I felt shameful, but...”
Phoenix sighs. “I just want to make things right. And be your friend. And reconnect.”
Iris frowns for a second.
“Feenie... is it alright if I call you that, by the way?”
He nods.
“I... I understand what it feels like to feel trapped inside your own situation.” Iris looks away. “I get that. And it seems like you’ve been through a lot. I’m... a little sad I couldn’t be there for you, but I can understand your situation. But from here on out, at least, I can be another person supporting you along the way. I know things might feel a bit awkward between us, considering what happened.. back then. But I know that we can move forward from this.” She smiles. “You’ve always been about that. It’s really nice to see you again, Feenie. It really is.”
“Yeah,” he breathes out. “For a while, I forgot that people cared about me. I started thinking that I was lesser than others, that they would abandon me the moment I was useless. But... but now I’ve realized that’s not true.”
“That’s good,” Iris sighs out in relief. “You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be cared about. No one in the right mind would abandon you.”
Phoenix gives her a small grin.
“In any case, I’m glad you came up to reconnect,” she admits softly.
“Yeah,” he says, giving her a small smile. “Me too.”
-
Wright.
I am not good with words like this. In court, I may seem to command control and respect, or whatever these people say because they think they know me. In reality, I feel as though I do not yet possess a great command with the English language.
I certainly don’t when it comes to you.
There are no words to describe your impact on my life. There are no words to describe my appreciation for you. There are no words to tell you how much you mean to me, to the world at large, to everyone around you.
In truth, I can only make large sweeping claims that don’t truly get at the finer details of everything about you, Wright.
You have saved me. Not just from von Karma. Not just from my pride. Not just from the court system. You have saved me from myself. After all, they say you are your greatest enemy. That rings true for me, at least.
Wright, I am sorry for what I have done. I know that I do not deserve the title of best friend, for all that I have done. Yet I know you’ll forgive me easily. That is how you’ve always been, and that’s how you’ll always be. I accept that. For me, though, it took a while to forgive myself, but I am working on it slowly yet steadily.
I am making the choice to stay, Wright.
I do not want to say it is for you, but a big part of it is you. It has always been you. You have saved me multiple times. You have changed me on levels incomprehensible to others. You have made me a better person and I can thank no one else for the impact that you have created in my life.
Thank you, Wright.
I’ll see you soon. Because I know you’ll spring back from this just like the way you spring back from everything else life throws at you. Because you are brave, and resilient, and all the things that I aspire to be.
Talk to you soon, Wright.
-
Phoenix slips into the passenger seat, sighing heavily.
“How did it go?”
Phoenix frowns. “You know, it feels like I’ve bared my entire soul and body to someone else. Like I’ve been ripped inside out and everything about me is visible.”
Miles chuckles. “Yes, that’s normal.”
Phoenix looks down at his hands. “Somehow I feel... dirty. Like after all my secrets and thoughts have been exposed, I feel gross for even thinking about them, like even... acknowledging them.”
“Well,” Miles starts. “Acknowledging the problem is always the start. Something can’t be fixed if it isn’t first acknowledged. We can’t solve a problem without first acknowledging it first, pointing out flaws and mistakes. Then we begin mending. That’s always the start, isn’t it?”
Phoenix bites his lip. “Right.”
“That’s your name,” Miles mumbles.
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t steal my joke.”
“Too late.” Miles begins to back out of the parking lot.
Phoenix shakes his head, rolling his eyes. “Thanks, Miles.”
“Don’t thank me--”
“Well, I mean for everything.”
“... Everything, huh?”
Phoenix laughs a little.
“Yeah. Everything.”
-
“Woah, did you make this lasagna from scratch, Uncle Miles?”
Miles nods, pushing up his glasses. “Indeed, Trucy.”
“Wow!” Trucy runs up to examine it closely. “Daddy’s no good at cooking from scratch; maybe he should learn from you!”
“I am in the same room as both of you,” Phoenix says, sweating. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“It’s never the wrong time to better your cooking skills anyway, Wright.”
They continue the banter throughout dinner, with Trucy talking about her day at school while Miles fills both of them in on recent happenings in the Prosecutor’s office. Phoenix then turns to tell stories about the Wright Anything Agency, with Trucy busting up laughing and Miles chuckling at the described antics.
At the lull of the conversation, Miles and Trucy look down at their empty plates and try not to spare a glance at Phoenix’s barely half-eaten plate.
Phoenix feels the shame bubble up to the surface.
Waste of food, waste of time, waste of energy. Look at you. Pathetic. This is why no one likes you.
“Hey,” Trucy speaks up, speaking slowly as if she’s afraid to say the wrong thing. “Daddy, it’s okay. You did your best.”
Miles nods, a serious yet sympathetic look on his face. “Are you still hungry, Wright? If not, that’s okay. You can pack this up for later, yes?”
Phoenix nods curtly. “Right. I’m not hungry, so I’ll save it for later.”
Miles cleans up the table, putting the leftovers and the rest of Phoenix’s plate in a container. Trucy helps wash the dishes as Phoenix sits there, struggling not to cry.
Failure. You make everyone upset, you--
“Thanks, Trucy. I’ll take over from here. Go ahead and turn on the television if you’d like to watch something.”
“Alright, Uncle Miles!” She skips off to the living room.
Phoenix looks up to see Miles washing the rest of the dishes, concentrated on the task at hand.
Phoenix gets up, brushing away his thoughts as he stands next to Miles, watching him slowly. They stand there in silence together for a while, the only noise coming from running water, plates clicking together, and the distant sound of the Steel Samurai theme song coming from the other room.
“Thanks for inviting us over and making us dinner. It was good,” Phoenix speaks up to break the silence, giving Miles a small smile. “Really, thank you so much, Miles.”
Miles shrugs. “It’s not that big of a deal, Wright. I figured it’d be a nice gesture. We’re friends, right? It’s nice to spend time with you and Trucy anyway.”
Phoenix laughs softly. “... Yeah. She’s wonderful, isn’t she?”
Miles glances over at him. “... Yeah.” He turns back to the dishes. “You both are.”
Phoenix’s heart skips a beat.
“Thank you, seriously, Miles. For driving me to therapy even though you didn't have to last week, for supporting me through all of this, for your... message in the journal.”
Miles blinks. “You read that, huh?”
“... Yeah. I don’t know if I should get that much credit for saving you, but it’s your life, your story, I guess.”
“You did save me. You were the one that showed me I could be saved. You told me it could get better, then showed me that it got better, and everything rolled from there. You are irreplaceable, Wright. Even if you hadn’t... if you hadn’t defended me in that trial, I don’t think I would have liked the person I would be without you.”
Phoenix flushes slightly, looking back down at the dishes. “Geez, that almost felt like a love confession.”
Miles almost drops a plate. “... Don’t get any ideas now,” he mutters.
“No guarantees,” Phoenix jokes.
Miles snorts.
“... You know, we almost feel like a family now, you know?” Phoenix laughs softly. “Me, Trucy, and now you; it's home. It’s the dream team.”
Miles snorts. “The dream team, huh? And I suppose next we’ll be adopting Apollo and Athena?” He moves to wash his hands.
“Of course,” Phoenix grins.
“Then I hope you won’t object to Kay and Seb--”
“I’ve never met them, but I love them already,” Phoenix giggles. “We’ve become a big happy family, haven’t we?”
Miles laughs softly, turning off the running water and fully facing Phoenix. “I suppose so, Wright.”
Phoenix gives him a small, patient grin. “Just call me Phoenix,” he says softly.
There’s a pause in the air.
Miles swallows. “Alright... Phoenix.”
Phoenix then suddenly brings Miles into a hug. Phoenix closes his eyes, whispering, “Thank you, best friend.” And Miles takes a little bit to respond, but he wraps his own arms around Phoenix as well.
“Of course, Phoenix. You know I’ll always be here. That all of us will always be here for you, no matter what.”
Phoenix grips on tighter.
“Yeah. I know.”
-
Phoenix just needs to change his perspective.
-
fin.