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Usually, it never really mattered to Ray if Gregory Edgeworth won or lost his trials. He was just as impressed with his work, either way. Today, though, he couldn’t help but feel relieved when the Judge handed down a well-deserved ‘not guilty’ verdict. Ray wanted Mr Edgeworth to be in the best mood possible when the trial ended. The day had finally come. It was the day that Gregory was going to ask if he could intern for him.
He’d been planning this for months. Now that he’d finally graduated from high school, and finally turned eighteen after what felt like the longest summer of his life, he was going to put all the nights spent rehearsing what he was going to say to good use.
He’d greet Mr Edgeworth with a respectful congratulations, and the professional handshake he’d been practicing at every opportunity. On the occasion that he hadn’t won, he’d offer his condolences, but he was thankful that he’d not had to go down this route. After that - whichever he chose - he’d bring up something he’d thought was especially impressive about the defence, just to prove that he’d been paying attention and knew what he was talking about. Once he was sure that Mr Edgeworth thought well of him, he’d finally ask the question he’d had in his head since sophomore year.
Before, when court was adjourned, Ray would make a swift exit before anyone asked him what he was doing. He knew he couldn’t pass as a lawyer, or even a law student. This time, though, he’d bought himself a coffee from the courthouse cafeteria, dumped enough sugar packets in it that he could consider it drinkable, and sat on the bench outside the defendant’s lobby. He bounced his leg, nervous as he waited for Mr Edgeworth to emerge. He hoped he’d be alone; the idea of having to introduce himself to a whole group of important-seeming legal people made him feel nauseous. He took some deep, shaky breaths, knowing that he wouldn’t make a good first impression unless he calmed down.
Okay. Okay, what’s the worst that can happen?
He’d asked himself this question over and over, and his thoughts usually spiralled into the disastrous and absurd. This time, though, he tried to think logically, sensibly, and concluded that the absolute worst that could happen would be that Mr Edgeworth laughed at him and told him ‘no’. He almost preferred the idea of a disaster.
...And what’s the best? The ideal?
The best outcome, the one he’d been daydreaming about, had Mr Edgeworth telling him that he’d seen him in the gallery and had a good feeling about his future legal abilities. He asked Ray to come and work for him there and then. While he knew that this probably wasn’t going to happen, it was nice to think about. He smiled, slightly.
...Don’t get too carried away. What’s probably gonna happen?
That was the one thing he hadn’t really considered. What was most likely to happen? It was easier to think of the outlandish, particularly when he was amazed that he even had the confidence to do this at all. He sipped his coffee, thinking. Realistically, he supposed, he’d be asked to come to an interview, so that Mr Edgeworth could decide if it’d really be worth training him. Interviews were nerve-wracking and awful, yes, but he took comfort in the fact that the most likely scenario wasn’t an outright no.
He watched the people as they walked past, but mostly kept his eyes fixed firmly on the defendant lobby doors. He didn’t want to miss Mr Edgeworth, either, and he grew increasingly worried as time crept on, that he’d merged with one of the larger crowds that had passed, and had long since left the courthouse. He started wondering when the next trial was, when he’d next have to do this to try and catch him, when - wait -
“Gregory Edgeworth?!”
Ray blurted out his name before he could stop himself. Realising what he’d just done, he covered his mouth with his free hand, and looked down, blushing furiously and silently berating himself for ruining the encounter before it’d even began.
“Yes?”
He was sure he’d blown it, that he wouldn’t get the chance to work for him, that there was no way Mr Edgeworth would say yes on the off-chance that he even waited around long enough for Ray to ask him. He’d probably just pretend that he hadn’t heard him, and would quickly hurry out to do whatever it was that important attorneys did after winning their trials, and Ray considered that perfectly understandable. He set his coffee down, and played with the sleeves of his sweater, trying not to let his disappointment show in case he worried someone, and-
...Wait, had Mr Edgeworth just addressed him?
Ray looked up, and saw the attorney stood before him. Not not judging, just wondering what he was going to say. Ray jumped to his feet. “I- uhh- sir- I-”
“Take your time,” Mr Edgeworth said, with a calm, kind smile.
Ray nodded, and took a deep breath. “My name is Raymond Shields, sir, and I’m- I-” he stopped himself from saying ‘huge fan’. “...I’m a huge admirer of your work, I… I have been for a long time! Sir!” He remembered the handshake he’d rehearsed, and held out his hand.
Mr Edgeworth laughed, slightly, shaking it, but not at all in a cruel way. “Ah, is that so? I admit I’m surprised, I didn’t realise that my line of work warranted fans. But I suppose that explains why I’ve seen you in the gallery so often.”
“You… you recognise me?!”
“That’s a rather conspicuous sweater that you wear.”
“Ah…” Ray felt himself blushing. “...I just… I just think that what you’re doing is…” Don’t say ‘really cool’. Don’t say ‘really cool’. “...Really cool!” Dammit! “I- I mean- protecting the innocent, working to make sure that all of your clients have a high-quality and fair defense, I think that’s, uhh… admirable. Especially with all the talk of corruption in the legal system, lately.” Ray stood a little taller. He’d practiced that part a lot.
Mr Edgeworth looked a little surprised at the authority with which he spoke. “You’ve done your research, certainly. Are you perhaps considering pursuing a career in law?”
“I am! I… do you think it’s something I should consider, sir?”
He nodded. “If it’s something you’re passionate about, then of course. I wish you all the best. Now - is there anything else I can do for you?” Ray noticed, then, that Mr Edgeworth looked as though he needed to be somewhere, and immediately started to worry that he’d been wasting the man’s time. But, if he didn’t ask now, he didn’t know if he’d ever be brave enough. He took a deep breath.
“Yes, actually, sir. Well, perhaps. Maybe.”
“Oh?” Mr Edgeworth raised an eyebrow.
“I, uhh… I have something I wanted to ask you. I… can I come and work with you? Just as an intern - I can make coffee, and do all the filing, and… and you don’t even have to pay me-” He stumbled over his words, as he spoke.
Mr Edgeworth clearly needed to get going - Ray could tell as much, from his stance. Nevertheless, he didn’t dismiss him on the spot. “Have you any paper? Write down your name and contact number, alright?
Ray gasped. He didn’t get an outright no! He sat back down on the bench, and quickly scribbled down his details. He tore the page off, and handed it to the attorney. “I-I’m sorry! Thank you!”
That earned him a bit of a strange look. “Surely I should be the one thanking you?” Mr Edgeworth shook his head. “...Anyway. It was good to meet you, Raymond.”
As he hurried away, Ray was sure that he saw him laugh at the exchange. He picked up his now-tepid coffee, and sipped it, a little deflated. It was a miracle that he hadn’t spilled any when he’d stood up so suddenly. He supposed that all those times he’d practised what he was going to say in the bathroom mirror were for nothing. He’d messed it up as soon as he’d spoken. He was sure of it. It had been kind of Mr Edgeworth, though, to take his contact details. He knew he wouldn’t hear back from him, that it was his way of saying ‘no’ without being too blunt about it, but it was better than the worst-case scenario he’d thought up, earlier. Much better.
And, well. A glimmer of hope remained, at least for now.
For Gregory Edgeworth, it had been a very, very long day. He’d been up since five, trying to get everything ready for the day ahead. His files needed updating, the detective hadn’t delivered him the information he’d been promised, and he needed to decide what advice he was to give his client in case she was called to testify. Breakfast had been brought from the overpriced stand by the train station, and hurriedly eaten in the car. Lunch had waited until after he’d picked Miles up from school, and he’d almost been late for doing that. By six o’clock that night, he was almost falling asleep on the couch.
“Father.” A small voice piped up.
Gregory went to rub his eyes, forgetting about his glasses just long enough to get a nice, fingerprint-sized smudge on the lens. He took them off, and cleaned them on his shirt. “Yes, Miles?”
“Father, if you’re going to sleep, you shouldn’t do it on the couch. It’s bad for your back. You have a bed for a reason, you know.” Eight-year-old Miles crossed his arms around a heavy-looking book that Gregory knew had come from his study.
Through his tiredness, Gregory smiled. “You’re right, son, as always. But, if I went to bed now, I wouldn’t be able to make dinner for us, would I?”
Miles considered this. “...You’re right. And you wouldn’t be able to call that man back, either.”
Gregory frowned, confused. “...What man?” Please say I didn’t forget about a phone conference…
Miles sighed, and set the book down. “That man who ambushed you in the courthouse. The reason why you had to run to collect me from school. The one who comes to all of your trials.”
Ah! Gregory sat up, with a relieved smile that he hadn’t jeopardised a future case he’d forgotten about. “You’re quite right, again, son. But I’d hardly say he ambushed me…” he laughed, softly. “I think he was trying to get his words out before he lost his nerve.”
“If he wants to be an attorney, he needs to be confident.”
“Well, yes…” Gregory nodded. “But I think he’ll be alright. He just needs some guidance, and some help getting his nerves in check. A little like you, with the school play last summer.”
Miles blushed, slightly, and looked away. “I suppose. But are you sure you want him to come and work with you? Aren’t you too busy?”
It was no secret to Gregory that Miles sometimes got a little upset about how late he had to work - and it was a constant source of worry that he stayed out investigating too late to spend proper time with him, to find out how school was going, to be told about any potential new friends…
“...I am busy, Miles, but I think he’ll be helpful, once he’s learned the basics. He’s eager to learn, which is refreshing - so eager that he even offered to work without pay, if you’d believe it.” Gregory wouldn’t dream of not paying him, of course.
He stood, and went to the kitchen. Miles followed, and sat at the table, watching him as he picked up the phone. Gregory felt in his pocket for the piece of paper he was given, and dialled the number. He smiled, when the phone was answered after ringing just once.
“Hello?” the familiar voice said, struggling to subdue its excitement. “Raymond speaking..!”
“Raymond, hello, it’s Gregory Edgeworth. I was just calling to see if you were still interested in coming to work at my office?”