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Chapter Text

Many things could be said about Miles Edgeworth, and the only person who would say something positive would be one Detective Gumshoe.

At 21, Miles was already known as the “Demon Prosecutor” who never lost a single case; the protégée of Manfred von Karma who, like his predecessor, used whatever means necessary to get a guilty verdict for the defendant.

Not that Miles wasn’t haunted by his own demons, but he rathered put defendants away than confront his own.

All his ties to the past had been severed that fateful day in the elevator, and he would just keep right on putting criminals behind bars (or onto death row)…because everyone who stood as a defendant was guilty according to his job of being a prosecutor.

They were criminals…some of them murderers.

They were the scum of society and no mercy should ever be shown on them. Thus, he had to be meticulous and secure nothing short of perfection. Since he was a prosecutor, that meant he couldn’t achieve anything less than guilty verdicts.

Miles was aware of his own reputation of course, but he didn’t care what other people thought of him. Was he sometimes devious and underhanded?

Yes.

But everything he did was still within the law.

He figured he would just keep on doing that and putting away any fool with the misfortune of standing in the defendant’s spot; that nothing would ever change.

Until, at least, the phone rang in his office.

“Prosecutor Miles Edgeworth speaking.” Ever the professional, he had quickly set his cup of tea down in order to answer the call.

Thus, he was surprised by the caller.

“Prosecutor Edgeworth, is your afternoon free? Prosecutor Payne was supposed to try a case, but slipped and dislocated his hip.”

It was obvious to Miles what Head Prosecutor Skye wanted of him. “I am free, yes. I have a case in a couple of days, but I am already prepared for it.”

“Excellent. Would you be able to take over Payne’s case? I know it’s short notice and I apologize, but we just got the call from the hospital an hour ago.”

“It would be no problem,” Miles assured her. “Are the files of the case in his office?”

“According to him, they’re on his desk. His door should be unlocked, but if not, just ask at the front desk and let them know the situation. I’ll authorize the use of the skeleton key for you.”

“Much appreciated.”

Some more pleasantries, and Miles hung up, stood, then left his office.

Payne’s office was only a couple doors down, and since they had nameplates on their doors it was easy enough to find.

Thankfully, the door was unlocked which saved Miles any additional headaches of having to call up Lana Skye again to have her authorize a skeleton key use.

Miles ignored the state of the (thankfully clean) office and located the case file number Lana had told him it was called on the desk.

It was probably something stupid, as Payne never tried any high-profile cases, but it would certainly give him another win under his belt.

Another piece of scum to be sent to prison, especially since Payne’s record was so unremarkable that Miles often forgot who the man was.

Miles picked up the file and went back to his own office in order to lock up before he headed over to the courthouse. The case probably was originally scheduled for the morning, but was pushed back to the afternoon due to Payne’s unfortunate accident.

Well, unfortunate for the sorry piece of human garbage on trial, that is, now that Miles had the case file.

Rather than take his own car to the courthouse, he opted to hail a cab so that he could go over the case files on the ride over; it wouldn’t do to mar his record by being caught unaware by the defense due to the last minute change.

Then again, as he glanced down at the name of the defense attorney, he figured he probably could walk into it blind as the name rang no bells.

Mia Fey? New blood, I suppose.

The cab had barely started to head to the courthouse when Miles looked at the name of the defendant, and his breath caught in his throat.

For a moment, his brain short circuited. Had it only been a moment in time in the fourth grade, he wouldn’t have given it another thought; just a childhood friend.

This was no ordinary “childhood friend”, however.

This was his first and only childhood friend (well, plus the Butz).

For a few moments, Miles was caught up in a whirlwind of emotions he had honestly forgotten himself capable of and couldn’t even attempt to identify.

Then, he quickly shut them down.

No. He’s a criminal, now. On trial for murder at a university. He’s nothing more than scum, and it’s my job to get a guilty verdict.

Part of his brain still continued to nag him since it went against everything he knew about the boy, but that was a boy from twelve years ago.

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out.

People change; he was a testament to that.

Before he continued to look over the case file, his eyes lingered on the defendant’s name a moment as he attempted to shut down any feelings of nostalgia.

Phoenix Wright. Apologies, but I will not break stride nor perfection for a mere familiar name.

Chapter Text

Phoenix had been both nervous and fairly confident before the trial and when he met Mia. Sure, she was a little…high strung…but he knew that not only was he innocent, but that his girlfriend was going to be called as a witness later and would have his back.

It…it wasn’t him, was it? No; no, he didn’t kill anyone! Granted, he would certainly think twice before letting his anger and jealousy get control to the point where he physically pushed someone again.

But he certainly hadn’t been expecting Doug to die as a result!

So, yes; that part of him was scared. What if they said he somehow still murdered the other boy just because he shoved him?

Alright, yes…that sounds bad.

Okay, so maybe he was a bit more nervous than he previously was even despite Mia’s assurances that she believed his innocence.

However, that all went out the window when he stood by the defendant’s seat and saw the prosecuting attorney walk in.

Oh, sure; he had been keeping tabs on his old friend as soon as he first saw the newspaper publish about the “Demon Prosecutor”. Certainly, that had even prompted him to remember that he wanted to help people feel less alone to the point where he switched his major from (performing) art to law.

It had been a shock to him, and it felt all the more real seeing Miles decked out in his prosecuting outfit and with a frown on his face than seeing it in the newspaper.

It was intimidating.

But…but I changed my major to law in order to meet him, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

Yet he was, because he had intended to meet Edgeworth head-to-head from the defense side.

…not the defendant’s side.

Voices broke his thoughts, and he realized that Mia was saying something to Miles.

“…expect to see you again.”

Miles’ lip curled in a sneer. “Pleasure is all mine, believe me.”

They…knew each other? Or, it seems like Mia had recognized Edgeworth but he didn’t recognize her. Some other case from the sounds of it.

“Unfortunately, the prosecutor who was supposed to handle this case took a nasty spill and dislocated his hip,” Miles informed Mia with a shrug.

Mia muttered something under her breath, but Phoenix could see that she was trying not to show how obviously nervous she was.

Phoenix couldn’t blame her; she was up against Miles Edgeworth.

The man who always got a guilty verdict.

Phoenix attempted to get a good look at Miles, but the man didn’t seem to want to look in his direction. But…but I’m innocent. He wouldn’t really convict an innocent person, would he?

…would he?

Phoenix took his seat upon command from the Judge, who opened up the case to begin.

He was almost glad he was wearing a facemask, because he had bit his lip more than once upon seeing that it was his old friend, the Demon Prosecutor, the man he wanted to save…who was going to be trying to prove him guilty.

Facts and data was being thrown around, but Phoenix’s mind was still trying to play catch-up while he attempted to make eye contact with Miles. Just look at me, Edgeworth. Let me know the Miles Edgeworth I knew is still in there.

He even stayed silent (despite both Mia and Miles pausing a moment) when there was mention of his girlfriend as a witness.

“I understand that the prosecution wanted to call the defendant to the stand…is that still the case?” Judge was looking at some files on his desk; notes from Payne, apparently.

Miles, who was in professional mode, smirked. “I hardly see the need to. The evidence is decisive of the defendant’s guilt.”

Phoenix felt his heart drop to his feet.

“Objection!” Mia called. “Your honor, we can’t decide my client’s innocence or guilt before seeing all the evidence…”

Miles didn’t even flinch or react to the death glare she gave him.

“…and hearing from him. As he and the witness were the only ones on the scene, and my client is innocent…”

Phoenix bit his lip again when Miles scoffed.

“…he deserves a chance to be heard. That’s the entire point of a trial. If we just decided the verdict upon hearing only the opening statements and some of the evidence, there wouldn’t be a need for attorneys!”

Judge nodded. “I agree. The prosecution’s request is denied. Phoenix Wright will take the stand.”

Mia glanced at him and gave him a nod.

So, Phoenix managed to get his shaky legs to support his weight so he could stand up and walk over to the stand.

“Now…what is your plea?” The Judge peered over the desk.

“I didn’t kill anyone!” Phoenix insisted in the strongest voice he could manage, though he cringed at the slight hoarseness of it due to his cold. “I’m innocent! Honest! I swear it!”

He spoke more to Miles than to the Judge or Mia, but Miles remained unmoved; like a rock.

“Very well.” Judge nodded. “You will explain to the court your relation to the man, Doug Swallow.”

Okay, Phoenix…just tell the truth, and…and…and get found guilty because Miles Edgeworth is the one prosecuting, and he just attempted to have me thrown in jail from the get-go!

Alright, that made him a bit angry, but hurt warred with it.

What came out of his mouth was most certainly not the truth, though perhaps that was because he looked at the stern face of Miles Edgeworth before he attempted not to rush through his testimony.

As if the indifferent expression on Miles’ face (and that the man still wouldn’t look him in the eye) wasn’t bad enough, Mia looked like she wanted to strangle him when he was finished.

Phoenix couldn’t really blame her, because even he knew that his explanation sounded like pure bullshit. British wanna-be? Way to also manage to sound like you’re a prejudiced asshole, Phoenix!

The room felt a little too warm, and it was no surprise that his last statement was the very first thing Mia called him out on.

Phoenix had expected the prosecution to tear his testimony apart, but Mia was the one leading a cross-examination…and honestly, he’d tear his testimony apart, too, for how pathetic it was.

“Okay…yes, but…” Phoenix coughed a couple of times, which allowed the prosecution to also jump in.

Miles was looking at a piece of paper rather than at Phoenix as he said: “You also claim to have just ‘stumbled upon’ the body. Well, not only has Miss Fey proven that you knew him prior, but was there to specifically meet with the defendant…”

Mia grimaced, and briefly cast a glare at Phoenix.

After all, it was his faulty testimony which caused her to walk right into this trap.

Phoenix swallowed heavily in the oppressive air which was starting to feel just a tad familiar.

“It seems…well, it’s rather obvious to state that the defendant has a cold. Defendant.”

Ouch. Not even a name?

“Were you, perhaps, taking anything for your cold? Such as…a medicine called ‘Cold Killer X’?”

“Y-yes! That’s…that’s the brand I was using, but I misplaced it at lunchtime that day…”

Miles cut him off with a smirk as he held up a photo. “I would like to submit this as evidence for the court. Particularly, I would like to draw attention to the bottle of medicine the victim is holding.”

Judge gasped. “Why…that’s the same brand Mister Wright claimed to be using!”

Phoenix didn’t like where this was going. Edgeworth…I didn’t do it. Why are you…?

“Objection! We can’t know for certain that such a mundane bottle is the same exact one the defendant uses!” Mia shot back.

Miles smirked and wiggled his finger at her. “Objection. Already there had been a request for it to be dusted for finger prints. Only the defendant’s and the victim’s prints were found.”

Mia gritted her teeth, and Phoenix felt like the floor was going to open up and swallow him whole.

“In conclusion,” Miles continued without missing a beat, “It’s rather obvious that the defendant did not lose the bottle at lunchtime. He has already lied in his testimony, so it seems rather foolish to believe every word which comes out of his mouth…”

Phoenix felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes, particularly at the scrutinizing look the Judge now had on his face. I…I lied this time, yea, but…but I’d never…I didn’t…it wasn’t me!

A distant memory swam in his mind, and he barely heard Miles saying that the reached conclusion was that during the time the victim was pushed, he had reached out and managed to grab the cold medicine to identify his killer.

The Judge nodded along, particularly when evidence of the victim’s watch having stopped at the time of death was presented.

Phoenix’s mind was a bit jumbled, and the air in the courthouse felt like it was going to try and suffocate him, but he couldn’t go down without a fight.

He knew he was innocent…but if he got convicted and word got out that Miles Edgeworth convicted an innocent person…

You might hate me, but I could never hate you, Edgeworth. I definitely don’t want that to happen. And, I’m innocent!

“Wait, wait a second!” Phoenix waved his hand around wildly, then had to pause to cough a couple of times. “That’s not the time I met with him! Or even got back! I didn’t do it!”

Miles gave a shrug, still without looking at him. “Spare us your lies.”

“Objection!” Mia called out. “If there’s a contradiction, then it’s our duty to hear about it! The truth!”

Phoenix flinched, as he knew that was a jab to his bullshit testimony from before. Still, he nodded eagerly as he wiped tears form his eyes, relieved when the Judge allowed him to testify about the time.

“The truth this time, please.” Mia added with a piercing look at him.

Phoenix’s shoulders slumped, and he gave a tiny nod. “Sorry. I…I did meet him. He did call me out to talk to me. I thought it was weird because he’s part of the Pharmacy Department. Uh…medical sciences and all that…”

Idiot. They probably already know that!

After a couple coughs, he continued: “He said he had something important he wanted to tell me, so we agreed to meet behind that building at 2:45 in the afternoon. We talked, and…”

And if he told the truth, it would make him look very guilty. But he was already raked over the coals for lying, and…what was the cost of perjury again?

“And?” Miles slammed his hand down on his desk.

Phoenix bowed his head. “We…we talked. I got angry, so I stormed away. And when I went back later, I found him laying there.”

He couldn’t say it. He couldn’t bring himself to admit to the argument and the shoving. So he didn’t lie exactly, but merely…omitted that part of the story.

It wasn’t important, right? How could shoving someone cause them to die?

Mia looked contemplative. “And the cold medicine?”

“Oh!” Okay, safer topic. “I’d been taking it for my cold for two or three days. But I did honestly lose it at lunch time that day. Honest!”

Miles scoffed. “Honest…from someone who previously lied? Not to mention your testimony is filled with holes…”

Mia interrupted. “I believe it’s the defense which starts off the cross-examination, Prosecutor Edgeworth.”

Miles didn’t seem to take any regards to her bite, and gave an exaggerated bow. “Of course, by all means, go ahead. Show the court just how innocent your client is.”

Phoenix swallowed back tears as that brief memory from the past got stronger.

“He did it! He’s guilty!”

Phoenix could practically hear the children’s chants ring in his ears and tried not to burst into tears as he clarified for Mia (upon her request) that he had lunch with his girlfriend, Dollie.

From there, it was proven that the cause of death was electrocution from the cable.

“But that wasn’t hanging down when I met him…!” Phoenix stammered.

Miles slammed his hand onto the desk again. “Obviously because you cut it.”

“I can’t…I didn’t…!”

Mia objected: “How would he have even reached to cut an overhead wire?”

Miles scoffed. “Most likely beforehand. Recall that this defendant has been caught lying. So, he cut the wire and then pushed the defendant into it.”

“Objection! He never said he pushed the victim…!”

Miles sneered. “Objection. He didn’t have to say it. Interesting thing about the victim’s coat is that it’s made of leather, and leather makes it easy for fingerprints to show up. I shouldn’t need to explain in great detail whose handprint was found on the front of the victim’s coat.”

Phoenix felt slightly dizzy as the piece of evidence was submitted; the obvious handprint brought visible by technology. I didn’t…I didn’t kill him! I shouldn’t have shoved him…I shouldn’t have lost my temper! But I…was there a hanging cable? I heard a loud noise…did I accidentally kill him?

He wasn’t completely sure of the discussion around him, only that when he looked up, Miles had finally glanced his way.

…with narrowed eyes, and a look on his face as if he was staring at a cockroach; with eyes which clearly said just as much as he did aloud:

“He obviously killed the victim in a fit of rage. The defendant is obviously guilty, so I see no need to prolong this trial.”

Last time, Miles’ voice had cut through the classroom like a knife, and then he had declared that there was no evidence.

He had believed Phoenix…but now, he believed Phoenix was guilty.

It hurt.

The one who had stood up for him back then was now trying to put him behind bars.

This was more than just apologizing for something he didn’t do (and right now, Phoenix wasn’t even sure if he was completely innocent in this case)…this was prison and possibly death row for murder.

And the one who had stood up for him back then was more than willing to lock him up and throw away the key.

It was crushing, and…once again, he was alone.

Alone, standing in the defendant’s spot, with nobody on his side.

Alone, because this time, Miles was also pointing his finger at him and calling “guilty”.

He was being smothered by the atmosphere and pain…

“Guilty! He’s guilty!”

“He did it!”

“He’s guilty!”

“Guilty!”

I’m alone…

“Objection!!”

Phoenix gasped, and hadn’t even been aware that he was crying until Mia raised her voice and looked at him.

Only, it wasn’t a scathing or piercing look, but a soft one. Sure, still slightly hardened, but…

Mia then smiled gently at him. “Phoenix. Please tell us what occurred during that incident. No matter what you say, I believe in your innocence. I believe in you. I trust you. Please trust me on this.”

Phoenix buried his face in his scarf as he cried, but managed a nod. Part of him was embarrassed for crying so easily, but just like he had twelve years ago the other part was relieved.

Oh, it still hurt that the guy who once defended him back then was now on board for him to be called guilty, but…he wasn’t alone.

Because Mia believed in him.

The Judge requested that he compose himself, and he managed (around some coughs) a tiny apology as he tried to reign in his tears.

Mia Fey believes in me. She thinks I’m innocent, even though I’m starting to doubt myself. Even though Edgeworth scorns me now.

“It’s alright, Phoenix.” Mia encouraged him. “You can do it. Just tell us what happened during that confrontation.”

Phoenix sniffled, then wiped his eyes with his scarf and nodded. “S-sorry. R-right. We…got into an argument b-because…he said that Dollie s-stole something. But she never would! Dollie isn’t like that! So I got angry and…and I pushed him…

“But there were no downed cables at the time! I swear! He fell and there was a ‘snap’ noise. I was still angry, so I left. But after a while, I got worried about him and came back and…and he was just…lying there. H-he was d-dead!”

Had he accidentally killed Doug? But he was sure there were no downed cables at the time! That aside, what had Dollie even been doing when he got back…?

Plus, that loud noise…

Oh.

Mia pointed out that it was the umbrella.

That Doug had fallen onto the umbrella.

Phoenix hiccoughed miserably as he clung to the hope Mia had just given him that it was odd that the body wasn’t anywhere near the fallen umbrella.

He hadn’t even realized it, but then again, Phoenix was already operating at lower than usual due to his cold…and his fever might be back…and then when his old friend glared at him like he was guilty.

Phoenix was actually somewhat surprised that Miles didn’t try to have the Judge make a ruling then and there when Mia argued that there were still questions left to answer.

Miles tapped his finger against his arm, but didn’t say anything in protest as Judge called a 20 minute recess.

“And for Japanifornia’s sake…have the defendant clean up a bit!” Judge added in response to Phoenix’s tears.

Phoenix was shaking as Mia agreed and placed a hand on his arm to lead him out.

“See?” Mia smiled at him. “I still believe in you.”

“Thank you.” Phoenix rubbed his eyes again. “I…I don’t mean to be a mess, I just…I blame the cold.”

If Mia knew he was bullshitting, she thankfully didn’t call him out on it.

Chapter Text

In the defendant’s lobby, a much calmer Phoenix was sprawled out on the bench/couch out there with the instructions to rest a little after he told Mia about Dollie.

His fever was back, but he stubbornly refused to request to put the trial on hold (and Mia honestly couldn’t blame him since he would wind up nursing that fever in a holding cell).

His hope was renewed despite the sting of Miles’ animosity towards him. Mia is still here…and Dollie will be testifying! Maybe she wanted to see me and that’s why she was there when I got back. She knows I’m innocent…so she’ll definitely prove it to them!

Then…then…!

Then Edgeworth will see that I’m still me! He didn’t push for a guilty verdict before the recess. And even though it hurts that he doesn’t believe in me, maybe him not pushing means that somewhere, the Miles I knew is still in there…geez. Thinking is making me tired…

Mia would have asked about his thoughts at the moment, but she was preoccupied with the suspicious coincidences in what she had just learned in regards to “Dollie”…though it looked like the young man was starting to doze off anyway.

Especially now that she knew that “Dollie” was Dahlia Hawthorne.

Who was suspected of being involved somehow with the traumatizing death of Fawles which occurred by poisoning on the stand; though the victim admitted to taking the poison himself, there were unanswered questions about who gave him the poison.

Then, on the day Phoenix met Dahlia, her partner was poisoned in the courthouse while questioning Dahlia…who was then let go because no vial had been found on her.

Mia’s gaze went to the necklace Phoenix had proudly shown her, currently visible as he lay on the bench/couch. It couldn’t be…

She tip-toed closer, and looked down at it. But it looks like it might…

That, and there had been a lot of coincidences that day.

And every good law enforcement agent knew that a series of coincidences was called a pattern.

There was something sinister about this case, and Mia still wondered about everything which had been said. Doug Swallow was Dahlia Hawthorne’s ex-boyfriend who studied in pharmaceuticals. Phoenix mentioned that Doug told him she stole something, which sparked their entire argument. Stealing from pharmaceuticals…

Her eyes drifted back to the necklace.

Or, more specifically, the center of the necklace. The heart-shape aside, there was something very interesting in the middle.

Almost like…a vial.

There were puzzle pieces all around Mia, but she felt like she was missing some critical evidence (and testimony) in order to confirm it…and she wasn’t sure what to do in order to prove the crazy (yet disturbing) theory which bounced about in her head.

Yet another reason to curse that damn Miles Edgeworth. If he had done his job as prosecution better and pressed her during the Fawles case after the poisoning…

Mia took a deep breath, then let it out and gently nudged Phoenix. “Court reconvenes in a couple minutes.” He looks like he can do with a lot more rest, but the ten or so minutes he managed to doze off hopefully helped a bit.

Phoenix rubbed his eyes blearily. “Oh. Didn’t even realize I fell asleep…sorry.”

“Don’t be. But when this is all over, you’ll be able to go back to your dorm room and get some actual rest.”

Phoenix considered that as he reoriented himself with his location. If Edgeworth doesn’t wedge the knife in deeper…oh, but Dollie is going to be testifying! She’ll clear me!

Mia was glad to see some life return to his eyes. “Just one thing…I have a theory I’ll be wanting to run past the court, but to do so I’ll need to submit that necklace of yours as evidence. Would it be alright if I borrowed it for the trial?”

Phoenix hesitated. It was, after all, very special to him…

“It might just be the key to this entire thing, believe it or not.” Mia wasn’t completely sure about that herself, but not a hint of her doubts showed in her voice or on her face. She softened her tone. “Please, Phoenix. You trust me, right?”

Phoenix brightened and took off the necklace, then placed it carefully in Mia’s outstretched hand. “I trust you.” Because you trusted in me when nobody else in that room did.

“Alright. Let’s go get you that ‘not guilty’ verdict you deserve.” Mia beamed at him as she led him back into the courtroom. I wish I had thought of the necklace sooner and had it tested for traces of poison, but I’ll have to fly by the seat of my pants. Worst come to worse, another recess can be called while it gets tested, but I’ll see if I can pull some strings in the next couple minutes. I’d prefer to end the trial today so this poor kid can get some rest.

Phoenix was far more prepared this time to see Miles at the prosecution desk, and oddly enough, he looked slightly unhappier than before. Was it because the trial didn’t end back there? But he didn’t object…

Trying to figure out what was going on in Miles’ brain while standing trial for a murder he didn’t commit made his head throb.

…or was that just his cold?

He really wished he could have gotten his medicine bottle back. But eating evidence would not be a good decision.

Court was back in session, and the next witness was called.

Phoenix perked up as soon as she strode through the doors, looking more ethereal than normal…

Huh. Maybe it’s the fever, but she seems to hold herself…differently? Or maybe it’s just because this is a court of law.

She seemed a lot more…confident…in the way she walked. Dainty, and like an angel…

Phoenix was nearly smitten all over again, and would have been when she smiled at him if the next thing he saw wasn’t Miles’ scowl.

What’s his deal? He’s even more pissy than before! And…geez! Even Mia is glaring at her!

The Judge, however, was completely entranced by the young woman who took the stand.

Phoenix wanted to call out to her, but…there was Miles’ scowl. More than a scowl, there was something in his eyes; something different from the accusation which pinned Phoenix down before.

It was like steel mixed with a hint of…rage?

Then, it was gone to be replaced with that cool edge once again…though Phoenix could feel like there was a tension just waiting to bubble over as Dahlia gave her name (after Miles had to prompt her a couple of times) and then launched into the testimony.

Phoenix felt his heart swell with love and hope as he listened. She’s helping me! She’s even risking perjury to cover for me!

At the same time, there was a sinking feeling in his gut. No…Dollie, don’t lie to cover for me! You’ll get slapped with a perjury charge! We had a fight!

The courtroom fell silent, and Phoenix realized that everyone was staring at him.

Mia, particularly, looked exasperated.

Phoenix coughed a couple of times, more out of nerves than his cold, and felt sweat roll down his neck. “I, erm…said that out loud, didn’t I…”

Miles snickered. “I’m surprised you were able to lie as convincingly as you did earlier considering you just blabbed your thoughts aloud.”

Mia recovered. “While it’s noble of you to cover for your…girlfriend……seriously, Phoenix, how in the world did you wind up with her? Bit out of your league.”

“Hey!” Phoenix flushed. Well, that hurt. “It was love at first sight! I already told you! When we met at the courthouse that day…!”

“Objection!” Miles slammed his hand down on the desk. “This does not pertain to what the witness claimed to see.”

“Except that we do know that she’s lying. Because if she had actually seen the two together then she would have seen their fight.” Mia retorted. “Which means that this avenue is worth exploring.”

Miles clicked his tongue. “How she met the defendant has zero to do with the case.”

“I believe it does. In fact, I feel it’s very important to figure out what really happened.”

Miles narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “What a waste of time…”

Judge shook his head. “I feel I am inclined to agree with the prosecution. Miss Fey, unless you can show us right now that this information is related to the matter at hand, I’ll have you go back to your cross-examination.”

Mia gritted her teeth, but agreed with the Judge. I can’t prove it yet. There are still pieces missing…so fine. We’ll play the slow game. She’s already told one lie, so more are sure to follow. And perhaps it’ll lead into where it needs to go.

So, she did just that and went about systematically proving that someone else must have been present on the scene and moved Doug; that there was no lightning that day, there was a power outage at 2:55, and that the witness would have heard the sound of the umbrella snapping.

This led to the Judge requesting Dahlia adjust her testimony.

Phoenix, meanwhile, was starting to get a bad feeling about this. Dollie was on the scene…I found her there. No…she probably got there after the real murderer already killed him! Dollie would never kill anyone!

Then, his mind screeched to a halt at her next testimony…and for a moment, he wondered if his heart had halted as well.

No…but it certainly crashed and burned.

Because she was now saying that he had…

Phoenix bit his sore lip and blinked away tears. Dollie…why? That’s not what happened at all! I didn’t tackle him! Or push him twice! There were no hanging wires…

Her testimony made it sound like he was very much guilty.

Miles agreed with Phoenix’s internal thoughts. “Interesting. She was obviously trying to cover for him at first, but the game is up now and the truth has come out. Unlike the lies the defendant told to save his own skin.”

“No! It’s not…it’s not like that!” Phoenix protested hoarsely. “Dollie…!”

The girl blinked and got a sad look on her face. “I…I’m sorry, Feenie. I can’t lie for you anymore. I had to tell them the truth!”

Phoenix gripped the rail in front of him so as not to stumble when the world momentarily tilted. Why…? I love you, Dollie! If you were watching, you know that’s not how things happened!

Miles, meanwhile, finished presenting his case. “…thus, I believe it’s now obvious that the defendant was telling nothing but lies.”

“Objection! That’s pure conjecture! Need I remind you, Prosecutor Edgeworth, that this witness also lied?” Mia shouted.

“To cover for a guilty party, which says more about her than the defendant who lied to save his own skin.”

Mia slammed her hand on the desk. “Again, conjecture! And Mister Wright told the truth in the end! Judge…!”

Phoenix noticed the reason she trailed off was because the Judge was softly looking at Dahlia. Oh, gross, old man!

“Overruled.” Judge declared.

Mia seethed, but then recovered herself. “The defense would like to still proceed with the cross-examination…which is our right, despite what the prosecution believes.”

Miles gave a mock bow.

Honestly, the entire situation made Phoenix feel sick. His girlfriend, whom he thought loved him, was telling a giant lie to make it look like he murdered Doug. Coupled with the Judge now on the prosecution’s side by making doe-eyes at the witness, and having his childhood friend constantly trying to push through a guilty verdict.

I didn’t do it, Edgeworth…why can’t you see that? Why don’t you believe in that anymore? You believe in evidence…and it did look pretty damning, but I have no clue how he got my medicine, and Miss Fey just proved someone else must have been at the scene!

At the same time, that was when Mia got the break she was looking for in order to start tying the string between this case and what happened eight months ago.

That, in the form of a heavyset man with small glasses and a mustache who entered the court with a document in hand.

Phoenix caught the name “Grossberg”, and that the man had dug up the report of an attack on her boyfriend’s life, but he didn’t have much time to ponder it before Mia started to talk about poisoning and…

“…that is why the defense believes,” Mia pointed at the witness stand. “That the witness, Dahlia Hawthorne, was the one to murder Doug Swallow and pin the crime on Phoenix Wright!”

Wait…what!?

Dahlia was shedding some tears now, blinking rapidly and innocently as the stunned ripple went through the courtroom.

Phoenix lurched to his feet. “What!? Dollie would never…!!”

“Open your eyes, Phoenix!” Mia snapped at him. “She just tried to throw you under the bus by making up a completely bogus story of what happened!” She turned her attention back to the rest of the courtroom (partially due to the way Phoenix’s entire countenance crumpled with hurt). “To tie it all together, I’m going to revisit that earlier objection I had. I’d like the witness to testify how she met my client…!”

Phoenix wanted to object, but a coughing fit stopped him from interrupting. He did notice that Miles didn’t protest what Mia was doing, and wondered what in the world was happening with this trial.

Shakily, he flopped back into his seat and wondered what was even happening right now.

He trusted Dollie, but…Mia's words rang in his head:

“She just tried to throw you under the bus!”

Phoenix wrapped his arms around himself, unsure if he could handle this if it got any crazier. I get accused of murder, believe for a few moments I actually did it, have an old friend…whom I want to know more about what happened to him…trying to push a guilty verdict on me, and now my girlfriend tried to help that along.

Just when he thought things couldn’t get any worse, Mia dropped the bomb after the next set of testimony that Dahlia was the prime suspect in the poisoning of her partner/boyfriend, and only hadn’t been caught because no poison or vial had been found on her.

Phoenix’s mind was snapping together a puzzle he didn’t want to complete.

No.

Piece after piece was falling into place even as tears blurred his vision and his head throbbed mercilessly.

Not Dollie…

The same day…a vial…a necklace…

Dollie even knitted me this sweater, and…!

“It can’t be Dollie!” Phoenix shouted as he lurched to his feet. “Dollie loves me…!”

Mia turned sharply on her heel to face him. There was steel in her voice, but her eyes held sympathy for him.

No…

“Phoenix, think to the day you met and what you told me earlier. She gave you this necklace…” Mia held up the item, which had apparently been presented at some point during all of the insanity. “…and kept asking for it back. This was something Dahlia absolutely had to get rid of…and what better place than some random person who wouldn’t be checked? She gave it to you in order to not be charged with murder.”

Phoenix shook his head. “You’re wrong…you’re wrong, you’re wrong…!” He was crying again, but he hardly noticed over the buzzing in his ears and the way the lights danced in his eyes.

The puzzle pieces had fallen into place, and he wasn’t even sure if he could identify the bone-chilling pain from the twisting knife of betrayal.

She never loved me…it was a setup…no! Dollie wouldn’t…! But I was wrong about Edgeworth, so about her……no! I can’t doubt! But it all fits…no, no…!

His thoughts were spinning so rapidly that he could barely try to even attempt to put a coherent sentence together in his mind. He didn’t even notice Mia calling his name in concern or that it felt like there was no oxygen in the room as he wheezed.

His tilting vision noticed the calm expression on Dahlia’s face, the panicked one on Mia’s as she rushed closer (was...she moving in slow motion? It looked like that) to the stand, and then…

A look of surprise and…was that concern?…on Miles’ face, which looked a shade paler than normal.

Heh…look at that. He still gets that look on his face when he’s worried. What’s he worried about, anyway…?

Then the world went black.

Chapter Text

His head was throbbing, and someone pushed him back down when he attempted to sit up.

“Not yet.”

Phoenix grimaced at the pounding in his head as his vision came back to focus on the ceiling of…the courthouse defendant lobby?

Oh…yup, there was a familiar lump under him; this was the defendant couch.

There was something cool on his forehead, and his body ached slightly in a way only a cold could cause.

Why was he in the lobby…?

The events hit him, and he gasped and attempted to sit up again but was stopped once more by Mia, who was seated at his side.

“Lay still for a little longer. Court is in recess on account of you passing out. Thankfully, they didn’t need to take you to the hospital.”

A somewhat familiar, yet unfamiliar, voice added: “Only because Mia managed to snag your sleeve before you dropped, so you didn’t hit your head on the way down.”

Phoenix squinted at the heavyset man…Grossberg?…who stood nearby.

“What do you remember?” Mia asked softly as she turned over what was apparently a damp handkerchief on his head.

Phoenix closed his eyes as he felt tears prick them. “That…Dollie…lied about what happened. And then…that you said she poisoned your…your boyfriend…” He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes, not that it stopped his tears. “I can’t think she’d actually do that. Not Dollie. But…but I trust you…”

A sob tore from his already painful throat. “Th-that she…was only looking to get r-rid of the e-evidence…and…everything was a lie. Our relationship…all of it! Just so she could get it back…!”

Mia sighed sadly and placed a hand on his head gently. “I’m sorry.” Especially because, if what I’m thinking is correct, it’s only going to get harder for you.

“I…I’m the one who’s sorry!” Phoenix sobbed. “About your boyfriend. But I loved her so much! I s-still can’t believe she’d…not the Dollie I know! Not that…that impassive look! None of this is like her! I don’t understand!”

Mia smoothed his hair not unlike what his mother used to do, and somehow, it was calming. “It’s not your fault.”

Phoenix could only continue to cry, though at least he wasn’t ugly crying like before.

Grossberg had excused himself to let the Judge know that Phoenix was conscious again (and to give Mia a word of encouragement). Thus, he was the only one who knew that there was someone watching them since he nearly bumped into one Miles Edgeworth on his way out.

“Oh! Um…?” Grossberg blinked owlishly.

Miles had his arms crossed tightly, a frown on his pale face. “Is…is he…?”

“Ah. Phoenix Wright? He just woke up and seems to be…as good as he can be considering he has a fever and just learned about the true face of someone he loved.”

Miles gripped his arm tightly and tried not to grimace. “True faces…huh…”

Grossberg squinted at him, but didn’t seem to understand the nuance.

They could hear the sobs from where they stood, though thankfully Phoenix’s heartbroken cries were getting softer during murmured words they couldn’t make out from Mia.

“He still trusts her. It’s sad, really.” Grossberg sighed, then realized who he was talking with. “Oh! I shouldn’t be telling you too much…”

“I…do not intend to use it against him.” Miles mumbled. He didn’t even know what he was doing outside the defendant’s lobby. It’s not like he was worried about Wright…

…damn it.

“I need to tell the judge he’s awake.”

Miles merely nodded, not trusting his voice.

Grossberg hesitated again, but was probably just as confused by Miles’ presence as Miles, himself. So, he shook his head and headed down the hall.

There was no rule against the prosecutor being there, it was just unusual.

Miles steadied himself with a couple (aggravatingly shaky) breaths. Wright is fine. Still stupidly trusting…

He knew halfway through the trial that Phoenix was probably innocent, and shortly into this second part he knew it for a fact. I…should be trying to get a guilty verdict. For the von Karma name…

Yet, he knew Phoenix was innocent.

Could he really keep poking wounds?

Certainly, in the state Phoenix was in, it would probably not be difficult to get him to admit to a crime he didn’t commit…

The thought made Miles feel ill, and he closed the door to the defendant lobby to lean against the wall and just breathe.

No. The guilty verdict I need to pursue is against that monster in the guise of a woman who is currently being held in custody so she doesn’t walk away before this is all resolved. That way, it'll still be perfect.

Miles glanced at the closed door. The last time someone had collapsed on the stand…

Well, technically, Phoenix had been in the defendant’s box and not on the stand, but it was enough to have him recall Fawles’ poisoning…

And considering that poison seemed to be a recurring theme here, he instantly had assumed the worst.

Miles gripped the sleeve of his shirt so tightly his knuckles turned white. Fawles didn’t deserve that fate. And certainly…Wright doesn’t, either. He doesn’t deserve to have the people he cares about stabbing him in the back.

Yet, that was exactly what he had done in the first half of the trial.

And now, he hated himself for it.

He tried to keep those emotions under wraps, but when he saw Phoenix’s desperation, his tears so reminiscent of all those years ago…and then saw the man collapse…

The feelings had surfaced.

Dammit! Push it back down! I was raised under the von Karma name! I need to prove it…and to pay them back for taking me in and teaching me! I wouldn’t have passed the bar exam early if not for them!

But there was still that annoying little voice niggling in the back of his mind that he did still care.

Especially now that he knew that Phoenix Wright did not murder Doug Swallow.

Yet, he also hated himself for doubting his childhood friend. Sure, people change, but Phoenix was just as straightforward as always; wearing his heart on his sleeve and all.

Miles finally pulled himself away from the wall to stride down the hallway. The dark scowl on his face prevented anyone from even attempting to greet him as he made his way back to the prosecution lobby.

I was one of the people who hurt him. But I’m not the only one.

Even if the she-devil was in that courtroom as they prepared to reconvene, he was the Demon Prosecutor; and he was going to make sure that the only way the she-devil walked out of that courtroom was in handcuffs and headed for death row.

Which, quite frankly, is far more lenient than she, or anyone else who hurts another, deserves.

Dammit, why did he suddenly choose now to start caring again!?

Phoenix Wright…what are you doing to me? What are these feelings?

Phoenix was reeling, on his feet, hands gripping the bar in front of him at the defendant’s chair tight enough for his knuckles to turn white.

During the (unplanned) recess, both the necklace and a certain bottle of cold medicine had been tested.

Though broken down over time, the vial in the necklace came back with results of elements from the same compound used on Mia’s boyfriend, and what had been in the Cold Killer X…

Well, Phoenix could hardly believe that being arrested was the only reason he was alive right now.

It hadn’t taken long for Mia to prove the link, then prove that it was Dahlia.

And Miles…had let it happen. Sure, he argued her points, but Phoenix felt like each time he did, Mia was able to present more evidence solidifying Dahlia’s guilt.

Even though Dahlia wasn’t the one on trial, even a rookie prosecutor could probably use the information presented during this case in order to put her away forever…if not on death row.

The gavel had came down for Phoenix with the verdict of “not guilty”, but he didn’t feel like celebrating as he took a shuddering breath.

I…thought I came to terms with the possibility that Doll…I mean, Dahlia…had done something awful. But that she killed people before even Doug…before she even attempted to kill me…

Yea, that was another point.

The woman had been plotting to kill him just to get back a piece of evidence which barely held up in court.

“Phoenix? It’s over.”

Mia’s voice brought him out of his thoughts, and Phoenix realized that the courtroom was empty save for them and…

Miles Edgeworth, who was nearly out the door.

Phoenix pushed his pain and confusion down, because if he lost this chance then it could be three or more years before he saw Miles again.

“Edgeworth!”

Mia looked confused, and rightfully so, as Miles paused.

The man didn’t turn around, but he did stop walking.

Phoenix forced himself to loosen his grip on the rail in front of him, then shuffled a little closer so he wouldn’t have to shout across the courtroom. “It’s been a while.”

He didn’t know what sort of shocked or surprised look was on Mia’s face.

Not that Phoenix really noticed, though he wanted to be sure to thank her for helping him in more ways than one.

Though, she seemed to realize that there was a lot to this conversation and took her leave (with a silent pat on Phoenix’s arm and a whispered “see you in the defendant’s lobby”), to which he nodded before turning his attention back to this.

Miles sighed. “It has.”

“I…didn’t expect to meet again so soon. Or even like this.”

Miles was glad that Phoenix couldn’t see his face, because he grimaced as he felt a stab of something he hadn’t felt in a long time regarding anyone else but his father: Guilt.

The self deprecation came out as a snort. “You mean, you being accused of murder and the case just happening into my hands after the prosecutor in charge of it landed himself with a dislocated hip?”

Phoenix tugged nervously on his scarf. “Y-yea.” And it hurt…it still does. That you were among the people pointing a finger at me instead of defending me. Defending…that’s what you had wanted to do…

So, he took a shaky breath in and then let it out to try and calm his nerves. “What happened to you, Edgeworth? After your father……after you moved away.”

Miles gripped his arm with a frown. “I hardly see why that’s any of your business.”

“Of course it is…!” Phoenix broke off in a coughing fit, then cleared his throat and added hoarsely: “Even if you don’t see me as a friend anymore, I’ve never stopped thinking of you as mine!”

Now Miles was very glad Phoenix couldn’t see his face, because that comment had hurt in a way which Phoenix definitely didn’t intend. And for a brief moment, it might have been reflected on his face. “We aren’t friends now.”

Phoenix shook his head and blinked tears away. “We’re both a bit different…you more than I. But I’m not lying. Edgeworth…”

…please turn and face me…

“…do you know why I was in the courthouse library that day, eight months ago?” was what Phoenix said, instead.

“…”

“And especially after seeing Miss Fey defend me so hard and believe in me…believing in me when nobody else did just like twelve years ago…I know I made the right choice.”

“What are you blathering about, Wright? I don’t have time for this…”

“I changed my major. To law. When I saw your name in the papers.”

Miles smiled humorlessly and hoped the catch of his breath wasn’t audible. “The Demon Prosecutor, you mean? I’m sure you can agree with those newspapers now that you’ve been on the other side personally.”

“Well, being the defendant wasn’t how I planned on seeing it for myself. More of being the defense attorney. But what I still don’t understand is why you went from wanting to be one as well to becoming a prosecutor.”

Miles began to move forward again. “I’ve entertained your prattle for long enough…”

Phoenix reached out and snagged Miles’ sleeve. “Please, Edgeworth. Before I passed out before, I finally got to look you in the eyes…and I still saw my old friend in there.”

“Wright…”

Phoenix interrupted. “I’m not…I’m not going to let you walk out of my life for years on end again.”

“So pass the bar.”

“I plan to. But I also plan on learning why you were mentored by a prosecutor when you had wanted to be just like…”

“Wright.” Miles’ voice was coated in steel as he attempted to shut himself away from the pain and guilt which swelled up within him. My dad…my crime.  “Don’t you dare complete that sentence.”

“Fine.” Phoenix accepted quietly. He heard the tightness in the other man’s voice, being this close. “But again, I’m not going to let this go.”

“Spare me your bullheadedness this once, Wright.”

“No. Because…” Phoenix tried blinking rapidly, but that didn’t stop the tears which spilled down his cheeks. “…you’re still my friend.”

“The Demon Prosecutor has no friends.”

“Maybe not. But Miles Edgeworth? What about him?”

Miles gritted his teeth and swatted Phoenix’s overly warm hand off his shoulder. He died twelve years ago.

“I don’t think he did.”

Miles stiffened, as he hadn’t meant to say that aloud. “We’re done, Wright.”

Phoenix was still hurt that Miles had pushed so hard to put him in jail, but that was all the more reason why he couldn’t let the man walk away now.

So, he blurted: “I was, and am, innocent! If Miss Fey hadn’t been defending me and you got a guilty verdict against me, you would have sent an innocent man to prison and possibly to death row!”

Miles, who had been mid-step, nearly stumbled. Yes, he had realized that during the impromptu intermission; that by using von Karma’s methods, he had pushed for a quick trial and a guilty verdict against an innocent person for the sake of his record.

He just had to be perfect; he still felt that way.

But those innocent people…

That was a different story. How many innocent people did I put away in the past year chasing perfection? No…I can’t think like that. But…

“That’s why I can’t let you walk away right now, Edgeworth.” Phoenix wiped his eyes and stood firm. “Because I can tell…you know that it’s morally wrong. You weren’t pushing me nearly as hard even after the first recess.”

Miles swallowed heavily. Stop talking…

Phoenix took a cautious step closer. “The newspapers called you a ‘Demon Prosecutor’, and you really did try to have me put away for that guilty verdict. But Edgeworth, I’m innocent….”

Please stop.

“Unless you can tell me, right here and now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you still believe me to be guilty…”

I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to think about it.

“…then that means there’s more to justice than a guilty verdict or a perfect record.”

“What would you know?” Miles interrupted scathingly. “You’re still in school about this! I’ve already passed the bar!”

Phoenix took another step closer. “Oh…I figured it was just the fever talking at this point. Heh…between everything that’s happened earlier and this cold, I’m pretty sure my brain is fried right now.”

Indeed, he didn’t even know where any of this was coming from. He was still hurt that Miles had been so ruthless against him…

But on the other hand, if I had actually been guilty…wouldn’t that be deserved? I don’t know why he changed from defense to offense, or what happened after his father died which led him to von Karma. But…

How could he possibly wallow in his own pain when it was obvious to him that someone else was in pain?

More than anything, he wanted to save his friend from this path of the Demon Prosecutor.

Even though the eyes which screamed “you’re guilty”, filled with steel and conviction, would probably haunt Phoenix’s dreams…

Miles, meanwhile, was wondering why he was still standing there gripping his arm instead of leaving. He wanted to, but his feet felt glued to the floor. I almost sent an innocent man to prison…which means that it’s possible I’ve done it before…

“But you know something, Edgeworth? I’d like to be able to call you ‘Miles’ again. Because you’re not a bad person.”

This time, Miles let out a humorless laugh. “I object to that, considering that I just tried to…” He couldn’t say it; the words got choked off in his throat when he did.

…tried to lock up an innocent person. Lock up you.

As if he needed something else on his conscience…honestly, someone should put him on trial.

In the back of his mind, Miles knew that von Karma would also have words (nasty ones) to say to him about failing to get a guilty verdict; for his perfect record to be ruined after just one year.

Yet right now, he was more angry at himself for trying to get Phoenix locked up; his old friend, who had been innocent all along.

Old friend…ha. What right do I have to claim that? “Why are you even bothering, Wright?”

Phoenix heard the hint of exhaustion in Miles’ voice, and when he placed a hand on the other’s shoulder, it was a light touch instead of a desperate grab of the sleeve. “I already told you. You helped me twelve years ago, and we became friends after the class trial. And I never once stopped searching for you.”

Miles was well aware of that, as when Phoenix found his address in Germany somehow around the fifth or sixth grade, there had been monthly letters.

Monthly letters which von Karma took great pleasure in tossing into the fireplace in front of him while reminding him that friendship makes a person weak.

“Well, you found me. So, what exactly is your plan?”

Phoenix chuckled, then coughed again. “Ah…I really didn’t get that far.” To save you, like you saved me.

Miles sighed. “Go home and rest. You’re talking nonsense.”

Oops; Phoenix realized he had said all of that aloud.

It was true that his throat was painfully scratchy, his chest ached, and his head was throbbing…but he had come this far already.

“Wright…” Miles resisted a sigh as he finally brushed Phoenix’s hand off his shoulder…much more gently than when he swatted the hand away before. “You have a fever. Go rest.”

Phoenix smiled behind his mask. “You’re concerned!”

“I most certainly am not. I just don’t want to be the only person in the room should you pass out again.”

Phoenix decided not to push his luck. “Number.”

“…what?” Miles turned a fraction to look at him like he had grown another head.

“I can’t give you my cell number because I have to pick it back up. But…what’s your mobile number?”

Miles started to move out the door again. “Go home, Wright…”

This time, Phoenix’s feverish hand caught Miles’ own and made the man jump and nearly drop the files which were under his other arm.

“Wright!!”

Phoenix forced back more tears; he’d always been more of a crier when he was ill, but it was still embarrassing. “I know. It’s not something we can talk about over the phone. That’s why I want to meet up with you again.”

“Not happening.”

Phoenix’s plan had been to pass the bar and meet him, but…yes, he still planned on studying law, but his old friend was literally in his reach as well as…

“You’re hurting.” Phoenix said quietly. “I want to help.”

“Then let go and leave.”

Phoenix coughed again, then sniffled as an idea hit him. “Your office too swamped with work to talk about this?”

“Yes.” Miles wanted this over with before fell any deeper down the hole he had started to slide down.

“Cool. You have an office.”

“Which is nowhere near your campus.” Miles attempted to run damage control. Just leave me alone. Please. It’s suffocating…

Someone was concerned for him. When was the last time that was the case?

Especially considering he had… “Are you a masochist, Wright?”

“Maybe?” Phoenix chuckled. He didn’t quite want to let go of Miles’ hand, because it felt right. It was…a weird feeling. It felt almost like when he was with……

No way, Phoenix decided. They were friends.

“I’ll just take a bus or train.”

Miles let out an exasperated sigh and started forward with Phoenix in tow.

“Woa…what…?!”

“Please do not break into my office.”

“I won’t!” Phoenix chirped as they headed to the defendant’s lobby.

“That’s not permission, Wright. This conversation is over.”

“For now, maybe. But I’m not giving up.”

Miles almost screamed at him. But I want you to! I want you to give up on me! Everyone else already has, and von Karma certainly is going to after today’s disastrous trial! He took me in and I repaid it with…whatever these damn feelings are!

Mia was surprised when Miles stormed in and practically pushed Phoenix to her.

“Please take your client. I’m leaving.”

Phoenix stumbled, but managed to right himself as he turned to wave at the other man now that he realized he could just visit the prosecutor’s office until he could help.

I’ll still become a defense attorney, I think. But what Edgeworth really needs right now is a friend. I just hope I can be that for him.

“What in the…?” Mia started, but Miles had quickly left. So, she turned to Phoenix and raised an eyebrow. “Care to explain what all that was?”

Phoenix rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “That might take a while…”

Mia stood up and went over to the vending machine, then returned with a can of juice and pushed it into Phoenix’s hand before she led him to a slightly more secluded couch and took a seat out of the way of other lawyers and bailiffs.

Phoenix didn’t realize how tired he was until he sat down as well, though the adrenaline still wasn’t completely out of his system yet.

Mia looked at him critically. “It’s nearly time for dinner, so drink that to get hydrated a little, and we can talk at my place.”

“Huh?”

“After swinging by the precinct to pick up your belongings, that is. It’ll be late by the time you get back to campus, so I’m offering for you to stay overnight at my apartment.”

“That’s alright…”

Mia shook her head. “No, because you went through a harrowing day and it would be completely irresponsible of me to just dump you back onto campus considering that you were framed for murder and nearly became a victim as well. Now drink, because you look like you’re about to pass out (again).”

Phoenix decided to follow the instructions as he pulled his mask down to do as he was told. He was actually relieved that he wouldn’t be spending the night alone in his dorm, because he was sure that in the whirlwind of half-baked plans to try and get Miles to open up so he could help him, he would certainly start to feel the actual impact of what had occurred this day.

And perhaps in his dreams, as well.

Mia, meanwhile, kept a close watch on his condition.

“Thank you.” Phoenix said quietly.

“It’s the least I can do.”

“You’ve already done so much for me. When you said you believed in me…that you trusted me…” Phoenix rubbed his eyes tiredly. “It reminded me that I didn’t want people to feel alone like that.”

And that’s why I’m going to save you, Edgeworth. Because you shouldn’t feel like you’re alone, either.

Chapter Text

The dreaded call came for Miles at around eight in the evening, when he was in his apartment.

Sure, von Karma had a mansion in Japan where he would reside whenever he prosecuted cases there rather than Germany, but Miles was certainly old enough to have a place of his own.

An apartment was just a place-holder for an actual house since he could certainly afford it. Since he currently had no use for the extra space, he instead splurged on his red car.

As his mobile phone rang again, he figured he had prolonged the inevitable enough and answered knowing full well that it would be one of two people.

After all, only four people knew his mobile number: Manfred von Karma, Franziska von Karma, Detective Dick Gumshoe (reluctantly), and head Prosecutor Lana Skye (for emergencies regarding prosecuting cases).

The latter two could be eliminated since he wasn’t investigating a case, nor was there any sort of emergency.

He highly doubted that his adoptive sister heard about the day’s trial yet, so that left only one person.

Miles took a deep breath to try and calm his nerves, then answered the phone. “Good evening, sir.”

“You failed to get a guilty verdict today, Edgeworth.”

Miles draped his jacket over the arm of his couch, then took a seat. “The witness turned out to be the culprit, and I fully intend to prosecute her.”

“Do you really think that will make up for the blemish on your record? You even said you hated criminals and wanted to put them away, yet this is the result? And after I so kindly took you in after your father’s death?”

Miles closed his eyes as guilt and pain hit him full force. In the least, he was grateful the man couldn’t see his face. “I’m sorry…”

“’Sorry’ does not make up for the fact that you failed, Edgeworth. Franziska has been prosecuting in Germany and hasn’t broken stride, yet you fail within a year of being granted the ability to prosecute actual cases? Do you realize the strings I had to pull in order to get you the bar test at your age and allow you in court?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Clearly not, if this is how you repay me! You have always been nothing but a burden, you realize.”

It wasn’t the first time Miles heard it, but it still stung all the same.

“Nobody else wanted you, so I graciously took you in and taught you the von Karma ways. And one of those ways is a perfect record. Prosecuting the witness does not make up for the fact that you let the man on trial walk free!”

“He was innocent…”

“Was he? They’re all scum, Edgeworth. Isn’t that what I’ve been telling you? Not to fall for the tricks the defense will pull to make it seem like their client is innocent. Defense attorneys are the worst sort, since they agree to take on the cases of the trash of society.”

There was a silent “your father being one of them” in there, but Miles heard it anyway to the point where it rang in his ears.

He gripped the material of his pants tightly with his free hand. “But the evidence showed…”

“Pardon? I thought I heard you mumble something. Something which sounded like you believe the ruling on today’s case as if you didn't fail miserably?! It’s up to you to use the evidence to get a guilty verdict! You have one job, and that’s to get defendants a guilty verdict. You can’t even do that correctly?”

“I can still get one in the next case…!”

“Silence!”

Miles snapped his jaw shut, somewhat ashamed at how he still followed the command even though he was a legal adult. Why am I trembling? Because he’s disappointed? Wright was innocent, but...

That, and the defense had been rock solid after the recess.

Not to mention his encounter with Phoenix after the court…

“How in the world did you manage to fail so spectacularly? You were actually promising when I was still guiding you, but clearly you’ve somehow managed to stray from that path in only a year of prosecuting. You were even making a name for yourself, and all defense attorneys would think twice when they saw your name! But you screwed it all up…all on your own.”

Miles felt ashamed, and was mortified to feel tears pricking the corners of his eyes. He had done his best to push his feelings down and prosecute Phoenix properly for the sake of perfection; even going to the point of trying to wrap up the trial before the defense could get a foothold.

Then, he tried to escape Phoenix after the trial because the man’s words had started to shake him down to his very foundation. As soon as he left the courthouse, he had to take some deep breaths while waiting for the cab because Phoenix had been dogging him just as hard as…

…as his father had.

As hard as a defense attorney who believed in their client.

The realization had hit him like a ton of bricks, and he was glad he had been away from Phoenix because he nearly had a panic attack when his mind finally convinced him to stop dodging the truth:

That Phoenix believed in him.

He could never tell von Karma that, and it was oddly that one thought which kept him from falling apart completely under von Karma’s typical harsh words.

“Now then. Do you somehow think that you don’t deserve these words as a result of your failure? Do you believe I was too harsh, Edgeworth?”

“N-no, sir.” He hated how his voice wavered. “I’m sorry I let you down.”

“No you are not. Else you would never have screwed up in the first place. You embarrassed the von Karma name, Edgeworth. Now we’re burdened with this anything but perfect mark. Because of you.”

Miles felt dizzy. “I…!”

He, what? Could do better? He nearly sent an innocent man to jail, all for his record! Phoenix Wright, at that!

“You are nothing but a black mark on this family’s name. You should be ashamed of yourself for hurting this family considering that we took you in when nobody else could even be bothered! And soon, the rest of this town will be ashamed as well…that the Demon Prosecutor was felled by a rookie defense attorney who has only taken on two cases in her entire career!”

Ouch. That…he wasn’t finished, yet! There was still so much to do…! But it’s not like he can disbar me. I can still prosecute, but…where to I go from here?

There was a sigh from the other end which brought Miles out of his spiraling thoughts, and much of the heat from von Karma’s temper dropped back to a normal tone.

“All the things I’ve done for you…you must truly despise us. Or perhaps, you don’t believe in seeing your job as a prosecutor to its natural conclusion of a guilty verdict?  Or that you aren't up to our standards?"

“Of course not!”

“If you are telling the truth, then it makes little sense to me of how you let this criminal slip from your grasp. How you failed to achieve nothing short of perfection.”

Miles shook his head even though he knew the man couldn’t see him. “The real criminal will be prosecuted fully! I won’t let her walk…!’

“I was talking about the defendant. Not the witness. You allowed the defense to lead you around and pin the crime on the witness. An amateurish mistake which does not befit the von Karma name.”

Miles gritted his teeth in both shame and anger. “It was proven otherwise! There was nothing I could have done!”

“Against a rookie defense lawyer? Really? And, there’s always something to be done. A von Karma gets a guilty verdict by any means possible, Edgeworth. I thought you knew that, but you apparently are not as smart as I had thought. How sad.”

By any means…? He had done all he could! And he now felt guilty about pushing so hard to get the verdict against Phoenix in the first half of the trial because it would have sent an innocent man to prison!

Miles couldn’t understand why von Karma was alright with that possibility, and it made his head throb as “always get a guilty verdict” and “perfect record” warred with the notion a fever-addled Phoenix had brought up that there was more to justice than that.

He couldn’t make heads or tails of it, though Phoenix’s words were familiar…he swore he had heard similar words over twelve years ago…

There was also that sinking feeling in his gut when von Karma had said “by any means”. He had honestly tried his hardest for the man, but it wasn’t good enough. There had been nothing more he could have done…!

“The case was handed off to me at the last minute.”

“Excuses. You had time to read it before entering the courthouse. And during the court recesses, you could have gone digging for more…evidence.”

Something about the way von Karma had said the last word set off alarm bells in Miles’ mind. “All of the evidence had been collected…”

“If it had, then you would not have been surprised by the poison in the bottle. What have I always told you, Edgeworth? There’s always more evidence to find. Even if you don’t think it exists at first.”

No, Miles did not like the phrasing on that. His fingers felt cold as he tried to voice his question. “Are you saying to…manifest evidence…?”

“What do you think?”

Miles thought that was exactly what von Karma was telling him, but there was a dangerous edge in the man’s voice now.

“Are you accusing me of falsifying information, Edgeworth?”

“No, sir.” He wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to be thinking now.

“For someone who enjoys chess so much, you were not even one step ahead of the defense today, let alone three. Haven’t I taught you that controlling when and how evidence is presented will control the trial?”

“Y-yes, sir…”

“And yet, you seem to have so much spite for your mentor…your foster father…that you fell into the defense’s trap of diverting attention from the defendant to a witness. I have sacrificed much for you, and you disappoint me like this. Tsk.”

Miles winced at the man’s click of the tongue.

“I hope whatever foolish game you were playing today was worth it, because a von Karma does not lose. Never show yourself in front of me again if this is how you are going to perform. I can’t stand to look at your pathetic face!”

Before Miles could say anything in return, there was a distinct buzz and click on the other end.

Miles numbly hung up on his end as well, then let the phone slip out of his grip and onto the couch as he buried his face in his hands. The career he had been making for himself, which he had been so proud of, was falling apart around him.

He wanted to angrily blame Phoenix for it, but he wasn’t a child. He knew very well that this was his own damn fault for being weak; for…for…!

He wasn’t even sure why it was his fault, he just knew it was.

Memories of his frequent nightmare sprung to mind, and he gasped. Another thing…if I was the one who…who…

He felt ill at the thought that he might have been responsible for two murders: His father, and Phoenix if Mia Fey had not been so persistent in defending Phoenix until she was able to uncover the truth to save him from death row.

Support was being pulled out from under his feet; von Karma was not impressed with him, and no longer would look at him with pride.

He couldn’t even repay the person who had taken him in!

Sure, life in the von Karma mansion hadn’t been easy, but it was better than an orphanage for sure!

Miles’ mind urged him to perhaps punish himself. To do something since he had failed to live up to expectations; since he couldn’t even seem to put criminals away properly.

Saying they were even guilty…

And now, he had lost everything. He still had his job and career, but what was the point in doing it anymore?

Nothing mattered…

“I don’t think you’re a bad person.”

“You’re hurting. I want to help.”

Miles let out a self deprecating laugh. Help? Wright wants to help me? How can he even…? Why would he?! I tried to have him put in jail for a crime he apparently didn’t commit! I didn’t make any effort to write back even though I knew he was the one who wrote those letters!

He was beyond help; beyond redemption.

Miles slid down to the floor and pulled his knees to his chest. I should just end it. Everyone would be happier that way. I won’t hurt or embarrass anyone if I’m not around…or possibly send innocent people to prison.

He sat there for a while, pondering that train of thought as he gripped his sleeve tightly before he let go and looked at aforementioned sleeve.

The place where Phoenix had grabbed him, panicked, and insisted that he couldn’t let Miles walk out again…

Miles rubbed his arm. “Despite everything, you still want to help me. I don’t understand you, Wright. Even becoming a defense attorney…”

What a fool.

Miles let out a shaky chuckle and finally dragged himself to his feet. He still felt like death warmed over, but in the very least, he supposed he could entertain whatever plan (or lack thereof) Phoenix had.

The man had protested Miles leaving while suffering from a fever and being betrayed by two people in one afternoon.

I at least owe it to him…to not screw up his efforts.

For now, he would remain alive then. Until Phoenix learned the truth that Miles already knew: He couldn’t be saved.

“Aaaa…CHOO!!”

Mia cringed slightly. “Sounding good.”

Phoenix blew his nose into a tissue, then tossed it and sanitized his hands. “Someone must be talking about me.”

Mia chuckled and leaned back on the armchair. “And certainly, it can’t possibly be due to your cold.”

“Hey…my fever has come down!” Phoenix protested.

Mia quirked a brow.

“…mostly.” Phoenix muttered as he huddled, swathed in a blanket, on Mia’s livingroom couch.

There had been a fierce debate over who would take the couch and who would take the bed. Phoenix volunteered to take the couch, while Mia wanted him to sleep in an actual bed since he was ill.

In the end, Phoenix only won because he plopped down on the couch and refused to budge.

Mia was strong with her tongue and mind, but not so much physically.

Dinner had wound up being a rice porridge Mia made, and she made sure to hand Phoenix the unopened box of cold medicine for him to take (which she had picked up at a convenience store while Phoenix got his belongings back from the police station).

After dinner, Phoenix explained to her about the class trial and Miles Edgeworth.

And as a result, Mia was still in a state of disbelief. “I’ve only crossed paths with Edgeworth twice, but the Demon Prosecutor stood up for you? He nearly had you sent to prison!”

“It’s true!” Phoenix beamed…then his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what happened after his dad died and he moved to Germany, but I know he’s hurting. He only pushed me hard the first half of the trial.”

“He should have waited for all the evidence to be presented.”

“It…sort of was? Don’t glare at me like that! The bottles were only able to be tested because my fever spiked.”

“Because you passed out, yes, and by then I considered the possibility that someone else had been the intended victim while you were unconscious.”

Phoenix looked down at his lap. “I still can’t believe…she was going to kill me. Miss Fey…”

“Mia. Don’t make me correct you again.”

“Mia…that’s not the Dollie I fell in love with. That woman in the courtroom…she was different.”

Mia looked at him sadly. “Phoenix…”

“I am...was...a theater major! I…I would have noticed if I was being played!”

Mia stood up, then went over and sat down on the coffee table so that she could take Phoenix’s hands. “Phoenix, look at me.” Good lord, I’m not a therapist…but I have to do something for this kid.

Phoenix met her sad gaze with watery eyes.

“Love is blinding sometimes. You fell hard for her,” Mia spoke softly, as if she would startle him if she said it too loudly. “And Dahlia Hawthorne is an accomplished liar.”

“But I…” Phoenix mumbled. I still believe…that was something more…there had to have been!

It hurt too much to believe otherwise.

Mia squeezed his hands gently. “My very first court appearance, she was called in as a witness. Ironically, the prosecutor was your old friend.”

Phoenix’s eyes widened. “Edgeworth was…? And Do…Dahlia?”

Mia nodded. “She was going by a different name, because supposedly, Dahlia Hawthorne had disappeared in a ravine. The truth came out of her true identity, and I was so close to proving that she was responsible for the death of her sister…”

“S-sister?!”

Mia wasn’t one to blab about old cases, but since Phoenix was a law student now anyway, he could just as easily find out about the case should he choose to look it up.

Plus, she had to tell him something to get him to face the truth; she knew he wouldn’t be able to move on if he didn’t.

While Mia didn’t particularly care for Edgeworth, if Phoenix wanted to save the man from being the Demon Prosecutor, then he needed to first heal from this harrowing experience.

The only thing she could think of to help him with that was to show him what sort of person Dahlia Hawthorne was.

“Her actions during a fake kidnapping scheme, which she came up with, led to a very complicated situation. And in the end…we couldn’t peg her. I couldn’t pin her down, nor could I finish proving my client innocent.”

“You lost the case?” Phoenix asked timidly.

“It was…a traumatizing experience for my first case. But I didn’t technically lose. Nor did Edgeworth technically win. There is no winner or loser when the defendant poisons himself and dies on the stand before anyone even realized what was happening. Only the witness had remained unsurprised.”

Phoenix sniffled. “I’m sorry. That you went through that. Oh, geez…my passing out on the stand must have been terrifying for you!”

Mia chuckled. “Well, it certainly got my adrenaline pumping more than the trial, but I relaxed when I saw you were still breathing. Dahlia Hawthorne walked that day because there was nothing more we could do. Then, she becomes the prime suspect in another courthouse incident.”

Phoenix recalled what he had learned. “Your…boyfriend?”

Mia took a deep breath, then let it out. “Yes. The day she met you and handed off the evidence. And because we couldn’t hold her on mere suspicion and circumstantial evidence, she walked again…and this time, you nearly paid the price.”

Phoenix shook his head, but couldn’t deny it. Not just me. Edgeworth, too…if I had been convicted.

“Dahlia Hawthorne is a psychopath, Phoenix. She has three murder charges on her now, though only two of those can be proven. I took this case when I saw her name under the witness information. It was the first time I took a case since my debut in court.”

“Woa.” Phoenix breathed out softly. “That was just your second time? But you seemed so…like you knew what you were doing!”

Mia chuckled. “I was winging it for a good portion of that trial. There were two reasons I didn’t waver. The first was that I swore to myself I wouldn’t let that psychopath walk again. The second…

“…the second was the most important part of being a defense attorney, and that’s belief. I believed you were innocent when I accepted your case, and I still believed it throughout the entire trial. That’s a sort of ‘golden rule’ for defense attorneys…to believe in and fight for your client’s innocence.”

Phoenix’s eyes shone not with tears or fever, but admiration. “That’s amazing! And it really helped when you reminded me of it, too. I thought I was alone, but…like what Edgeworth did for me twelve years ago, you reminded me of it, too.”

“Honestly, your commitment to believing in others will help you if you still intend to pursue the bar for defense attorneys. It’s fundamental.”

Phoenix thought about something as he looked at the hands in his. “How is it that Edgeworth was able to prosecute in your first case? And this one? He’s the same age as me.”

“Most likely his mentor, Manfred von Karma. Japanifornia laws here are fairly lax about having to complete law school. So long as you can pass the bar exam and have a recommendation, it seems to……what’s with that grin?”

“Can you mentor me?”

Mia stared at him blankly for a moment. Then:

“…what?”

Phoenix smiled sheepishly. “Uh, I mean…please? I want to switch to being a defense attorney fast. I’ve done my liberal arts, but I’d be three years behind...and I want to help Edgeworth as soon as I can.”

That, and he felt a sense of urgency he couldn’t quite explain; like he should try to study law as fast and efficiently as possible. He wasn’t sure if he could, but if he had a mentor to help him…

“Plus, I don’t live too far away! I remember where your office was…I could even bike to it from my place! Well, my nana’s place…that’s where I’d have to be staying until I can find an apartment of my own…”

“Phoenix, I’m still considered a ‘rookie’!”

“The rookie who beat Edgeworth.” Phoenix quipped.

Mia cursed under her breath. This was supposed to draw his attention to his own feelings to work out what just happened today. How in the world did we get here?

“Please, Mia.” Phoenix sobered quickly. “I can’t really explain it, but…I just…well, feel like it’s what I need to do right now.”

“I’m honored, but…”

“I don’t want to go back to campus,” Phoenix blurted.

“Come again?”

Phoenix pulled his hands back to tuck them into the blanket again. “I don’t run away from things. I don’t. But even though I was proven innocent, I was arrested on campus in front of dozens of other students.”

Just the thought of returning to campus and getting the glares he had gotten in court…

“Remember when I called my friend when you were making dinner?”

“During the time I tried to get you to take a nap, yes. You’re quite a handful.”

Phoenix shook his head. “He doesn’t go to university, but well…he’s a sort of um…a big people person. The verdict was out and the campus knew I’d be returning, but he said that they all still think I did it.”

There was also a deep rooted fear he couldn’t quite explain; what if someone found out about the poisoned medicine and tried to finish the job?

He hadn’t said anything, but he had been grateful when Mia picked up a new (blister pack rather than a bottle) of cold medicine. The relief he had felt at that time was a little frightening.

Mia’s expression softened. “But you don’t want to drop out.”

Phoenix nodded miserably.

Mia considered it. He is pretty sensitive in “the world is out to get me” situations. Like the class trial when everyone turned against him, and today’s trial. It would be difficult for him to focus on his studies if he was constantly looking over his shoulder.

Phoenix fidgeted.

“Tell you what.” Mia made a decision. “Let me run it by my mentor, Mister Grossberg. I don’t have the sort of influence or experience as someone of Prosecutor von Karma’s status, and you might have to study under Grossberg, who does have a name for himself, for a little while..." As much as I'm trying to distance myself from him now...

“If that is acceptable for you, then we can speak with your college administration and see what we can work out……on one more condition.”

Phoenix, who was halfway towards cheering in glee despite his sore throat, paused.

Mia gave him a hard look. “That you talk with a therapist.”

“Wha…?”

“You dance around your own pain. I attempted to get you to open up now, but you brought it back to wanting to save your friend; which is a noble goal, but you can’t keep suppressing what you felt during this experience.”

Phoenix frowned and nervously picked at the blanket. “I don’t think I need…”

“There’s no shame in it. In fact, many police officers and detectives have it recommended to them to see someone due to the traumatizing things they often have to encounter. That same offer is always there for lawyers since we sometimes have to do our own investigations.”

“The cost…?”

“If you’re under Grossberg’s tutelage, or mine, it’ll be covered.”

Phoenix shifted uneasily. “Have you…ever had to?”

Mia nodded, much to his surprise. “After my first case, though not straight away. It was due to this therapist that I didn’t give up on my career as a defense attorney. It took a little longer than I would have liked, but it’s best to strike when the wound is fresh.”

A puzzled look was the response.

“A fresh mental or emotional wound can be patched up a lot easier, Phoenix. Clean it out before it festers, stitch it up, put a metaphorical bandage on it…it might leave a scar, but it’ll scar regardless. But a wound left untreated by a professional will scar a lot heavier. That’s when you get traumas.”

“Oh.” Phoenix honestly felt better knowing that Mia had been to a therapist; he hadn’t been expecting a positive answer to his question considering how strong she was.

He mentioned that.

Mia laughed. “Anyone can appear strong, Phoenix! But at the end of the day, we’re all merely human. And if humans were intended to go through life, and our problems, all by ourselves then we wouldn’t live in a society filled with other people.”

“Huh. Never thought of it like that.” Phoenix admitted.

Mia chuckled and stood up. “And while we’re on the subject of humans living in close quarters…”

“No. I’m not taking the bed.”

“Objection!”

Phoenix gawked at her, then sputtered: “Th-then…I’ll also…objection!”

Chapter Text

It started off as usual. He was in the elevator with his dad and the bailiff when everything around them started to shake. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the power went out, and then…silence.

The elevator wasn’t moving.

Miles wasn’t scared at first because it was probably temporary and his dad was there with him.

But it wasn’t temporary.

The bailiff had kept pressing the emergency button and pounding on the doors, but nobody seemed to hear them.

Did anyone even know they were in there?

The air was getting thinner, and he was getting dizzier.

Occasionally, the bailiff would pound on the door, just to get rebuked by his dad.

Miles was scared.

“D-dad…”

“I’m here, son. It’ll be alright.”

“I don’t feel well.”

“It’ll pass.”

Miles wasn’t stupid. It was because of the lack of oxygen. He was gasping for breath, and his clothes stuck to him in sweat. Though it was December, the elevator without power was like a sauna.

Miles wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but he could actually hear their gasping breaths in the elevator.

Then, screaming.

“I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!”

“Quiet! Your screaming is wasting oxygen!”

“Then…stop breathing my oxygen! Stop breathing it!”

Miles’ eyes had since adjusted to the dark, though it was still difficult to make out more than shapes. He did, however, hear and see the two men grappling with each other.

“Stop it! There’s a child present!”

“My air! Stop breathing my air!”

Miles wanted to help, but he felt like his strength was sapped. He had to help his dad!

That was when his vision landed on the gun. He didn’t know where it came from at the time due to how muddled his brain was, but…

Before he realized what he was doing, he had picked up the gun and used the last of his strength to stand up and chuck it at the form he hoped was the bailiff.

“Don’t hurt my dad!”

BANG!

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHH!!!”

Darkness.

Miles’ eyes snapped open. It was the third night in a row he had gotten that nightmare since the trial of Phoenix Wright and von Karma’s phone call.

The next day, Franziska had called him to berate him and call him a fool approximately thirty-three times.

Yes, he counted.

Then, von Karma had called again.

“You should feel grateful, Edgeworth. While the papers are all over your defeat at the hands of that rookie lawyer, I won’t personally say a word to them even though your loss is disgusting and I don’t accept blemishes…”

Thus far, von Karma had not done anything except that second phone call.

Frankly, that freaked Miles out even more since he had no clue how or when von Karma would punish him for the loss.

The man trudged out of bed to get a glass of water, cursing how his hands still trembled even after twelve years of that damn nightmare.

Then again, he noticed that he tended to get the nightmare when he was more stressed.

And certainly, he was a wreck.

Somehow, he managed to get his water without spilling, then gulped it down; hardly the elegant way he was taught in the von Karma manor, but he didn’t care.

The nightmare was, as far as he knew, his well guarded secret. He remembered waking up in the von Karma manor after it, sweaty and terrified but not wanting to wake anyone else up.

He would only venture out to get a glass of water when his sweat turned cold and he started shivering. While he had passed Franziska once or twice, she had been half asleep and didn’t really care why he was up.

Miles closed his eyes and leaned against the counter, head bowed. They’ve been especially persistent. Is it due to meeting Wright again?

That was another can of worms which Miles really didn’t want to open. Wright. The innocent old friend I nearly got put on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. But it fits me, I suppose. If that dream is more than just a nightmare…I’m a murderer.

It was getting harder and harder to just call it a “nightmare”. He wasn’t into supernatural things (particularly since that medium had been wrong), but even he knew that having a recurring dream (particularly for twelve bloody years) meant that it was probably something else.

And certainly, it always reflected his fear and brought back memories of being trapped in that god-forsaken elevator.

Miles nearly slammed his cup into the sink, but remembered at the last second that it was glass; and he really didn’t feel like cleaning up glass in the middle of the night.

Then again, there was no way he was going to be able to fall back asleep; he never could after one of those nightmares.

So, he merely sighed and moved the cup to the dishwasher, then figured he might as well get dressed and re-review the case files for the trial he was going to prosecute in a couple days.

A part of him wondered if he should invite Mia Fey to watch in the gallery since there was no lost love between her and the accused. Maybe even invite Wright so he can get some closure…

Miles shook his head. Where in the world did that come from? Why should I care if he gets closure or not?

Yet, he did. Just as he cared that he nearly sent the man to prison/death row.

Miles ran a hand down his face tiredly. Sleepless nights were adding up, and his thoughts were just as muddled as they were when Phoenix first stopped him after the trial to talk.

He had disappointed his mentor and stained the von Karma name…but he had also nearly put Phoenix, who was innocent, in jail.

What was the right thing to do, then?

Put criminals away without considering that they might be innocent? Just for a perfect record, to please someone who currently hated him, or for a guilty verdict?

Or should he hear out the defense’s case fully and ease up a little should the defendant turn out to be innocent?

Should he continue to withhold information and evidence until it was needed? Or even completely withhold it unless the defense points it out?

Well…perhaps for psychopaths like Hawthorne who should be removed from the streets as soon as possible.

After all, there was no way she didn’t play a part in the Fawles’s death. It was possible that it was even the same poison as used on Mia’s partner…

Miles started to flip through the old case files he had brought home. And I’m going to try and connect it. She’s facing two counts of murder, which should put her on death row anyway. But if I’m to try and regain any sort of trust from von Karma…

Did he even want to? It seemed to be a lost cause.

…then I’ll need this trial to be perfect. Fawles took the poison of his own discretion, but if I can still link it to the type of poison in that vial used on the defense attorney…that information should be in the lab reports for the incidents.

Certainly, if he could get her slapped with an additional charge, it could bring him up again.

Or, it’s a lost cause. Because a von Karma does not lose.

Yet, he had lost.

Conflicted as he felt about it, he was starting to lean towards his own “not guilty” ruling on how he felt over it. Certainly, he felt like the scum he knew he was…but there was this nagging little voice in his head telling him that he shouldn’t feel ashamed for Phoenix’s ruling.

He couldn’t say he did the right thing, since any other defense attorney probably would have given up or not made the connection to the cold medicine to have it tested, but still…

Yea, I’m losing it if I’m thinking that the defense played well. Hell, if this all turns out to be the right thing and Wright is correct, then I might as well thank Fey! I mean, why not? I’m already losing my mind.

Lost was the perfect word to describe how he felt at the moment. Part of him wished he could tell someone, but there wasn’t anyone who would listen.

Gumshoe aside…

Like hell he would confide in the man.

His brain conjured up an image of a young man with slicked back hair, brown eyes, and a sheepish smile on his face.

Miles immediately slammed the file shut and stood up. Why am I thinking about Wright at a time like this!? Obviously, lack of sleep is messing with my brain.

That had to be it.

For the rest of the day, Miles didn’t hear a single word from von Karma (though he did receive a few texts from Franziska). He didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad one, but he hoped it was the former.

After all, he was going to be prosecuting a literal psychopath in a couple of days and everything had to be perfect.

Miles was reviewing the evidence from the Fawles case (and trying not to remember his panic at seeing the defendant start coughing up blood) when there was a knock on his door.

That’s odd. I’m not expecting anyone…

Most of the other prosecutors left him alone, and if it was Gumshoe then the man would just burst right in after the pounding he thought was “knocking”.

“Come in.” Miles answered after he first glanced back just to make sure that it was evening and not night.

Still technically daylight, so the chances of it being a less than savory member of society was only one in ten.

Thankfully, it was an upstanding member of society.

…or not so much, as Miles had honestly hoped that Phoenix was going to give up on him like everyone else seemed to do.

The young man was certainly dressed better; no longer in that tacky pink sweater, but instead a dark blue peacoat (to keep warm in the chilly Spring weather) over what looked like a blue button-down or polo shirt and khaki pants held up with a belt. Though, he still wore sneakers rather than loafers.

“H-hey, Edgeworth!” Phoenix greeted in a mix of cheer and nervousness.

Miles didn’t look up from his file; mostly so he wouldn’t have to look at the other. “It sounds like your cold is gone.”

“Yup! All better!”

“And you’re far better dressed.”

Phoenix rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he stepped into the office. “Well, Mia said that I should get used to looking more ‘professional’.”

Miles took a couple of moments to process the name. “Miss Fey?”

“Yea! I’m still trying to be a defense attorney…I’ve doubled my efforts now!” Phoenix thought he would be a lot more nervous to talk with his old friend after their last confrontation, but it was starting to feel sort of natural.

“Hnn.”

“S-so…” Phoenix continued his explanation as he stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked a bit on his feet since he wasn’t sure what to do. “…I mean, it was actually you who inspired me. Again. When I heard that you were able to appear in court because you had a mentor.”

Miles pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off a headache which had been building all day. “Let me guess…it’s with Miss Fey.”

“Yup! I’m studying law all the time instead of attending college. My credits will still stand, though.”

Miles really didn’t feel like conversation, especially because Phoenix seemed happy to see him. “Wright, what are you doing here?”

Phoenix gave him a puzzled look. “I told you…I’d come visit.”

“You might still be in school and have free time, but I’m working. I’m going to be prosecuting your ex in two days and I don’t have time for…”

Phoenix went white as a sheet. “D-Dahlia’s?”

Miles was just grateful the man wasn’t using that sappy nickname. Still, the man’s pallor made a rush of concern flood through him. “Sit down. Last thing I need is you passing out in my office.”

Phoenix muttered that he wasn’t going to pass out, but took a seat on the sofa regardless.

“And yes, I’m prosecuting her case.”

Phoenix clasped his hands together in between his knees. “I…I’m actually glad.”

Miles only glanced at him because of the subdued tone.

Phoenix wasn’t smiling, but there was a hint of relief in his voice. “We heard about the upcoming trial. I…hadn’t decided if I was going to go watch. I’d be allowed thanks to Mia, but now I’ve made up my mind. I’ll be in the gallery.”

Miles mumbled “masochist” under his breath.

Phoenix chuckled weakly. “Not really. I just…it sounds like it’d be ‘closure’.” He wasn’t about to talk about his first therapy session from the other day with Miles just yet, but he could at least use that word. Plus…

“You’ll be prosecuting.”

“I already said I was.”

“That’s why I’m going to watch.”

Miles snorted. “Didn’t get enough of that from the defendant’s seat?” Of me trying to send you, an innocent man, to jail?

Phoenix seemed to understand the words unsaid. He took a deep breath, then let it out and looked up at the other man. “Dahlia is not innocent. Not by a long shot.”

Miles’ breath hitched the brief moment their eyes met, and he quickly looked back at the documents in front of him. Unlike the eyes which had been clouded with confusion and pain during the trial, the brief eye contact had shown that Phoenix’s eyes were now clear and determined.

A little fearful, perhaps, but ready to take on the world.

He always did bounce back quickly, the bastard. Miles rubbed the bridge of his nose again and tried not to get too annoyed or jealous.

“And I know she won’t stand a chance against you.”

“Really, now…because I recall a defendant who managed to get off. The only defendant I ever went up against who did.” Miles blamed tiredness and the building headache on letting some of his self deprecation slip.

“Well…I was innocent. You saw that by the second half of the trial, too.”

Miles didn’t grace that with a comment. Why does he have so much faith in me after I nearly locked him up!? I could have gotten him killed!

It honestly boggled his mind. He could still hear the echoes of von Karma accusing him of being ungrateful, and the whispers of Franziska calling him “foolish” and “failure”.

Then why was this man able to believe in him so quickly!? Particularly after he nearly destroyed the guy’s life?!

For goodness’ sake, the man dropped out (or transferred?) from college sometime between the end of the trial and today! Wouldn’t that be because he was accused of murder!?

“Edgeworth?”

Miles blinked and glanced up to see that Phoenix had a slight frown on his face and was looking at him. “What, Wright? I’m still busy…”

“Are you alright?”

Miles stilled a moment, and had to suppress a laugh. Am I “alright”? I’m the furthest thing from “alright”! I’m an ungrateful burden for von Karma, and who knows what his ultimate punishment of me is going to be! He isn’t the sort to forgive; there’s no way I can make that up to him or make him proud of me ever again.

Plus the increase in the nightmares, the new feelings of guilt and wondering how many innocent people he actually did send to prison, and the constant whisper in the back of his mind that everyone around him would be much better off if he was dead.

“Did I give you my cold?” Phoenix stood up with a slightly panicked look. “I hope not! I’m sorry if I did…!”

“No, you did not give me your cold.” Miles shut that down before the other man could get any louder since it was not doing his head any favors.

“Seriously though, Edgeworth…you look worse than I did when I was sick. Hey, I saw myself in the mirror. You’re like…as pale as a ghost.”

“I’ve always had pale skin, Wright.”

“No, your level is unhealthy-pale.”

Miles sighed. “Your concern is noted, but unnecessary, Wright.”

Phoenix looked out the window a moment, then back at Miles. “When do you get off work?”

Miles slammed the file on his desk shut, then regretted it as he couldn’t hold back the grimace of pain from the headache. “Obviously now since there’s a busybody who won’t leave well enough alone!”

Phoenix didn’t look the least bit offended as Miles had hoped.

Rather, Miles pushed away from his desk and stood up…then had to grip the desk when the world titled for a moment, his vision got a little white around the edges, and the throbbing in his head doubled.

“Woa!” Phoenix had already crossed to the area behind the desk, though he didn’t actually touch Miles and merely hovered worriedly. “See?”

“I’m fine, Wright. I merely……I don’t have to explain myself to you!”

“Objection!”

For a moment, there was complete silence in the office.

Miles stared at Phoenix in bewilderment, while Phoenix stared back with a look on his face as if he was just realizing what he had said.

“Uh…” Phoenix finally broke the silence with a chuckle. “So, anyway, yea…you don’t have a driver’s license, do you?”

“I do.” Miles moved around the desk to gather his coat off the rack since he obviously wasn’t going to get more work done in his office.

“And a car?”

“I’m well beyond the age for games of twenty-questions, Wright.”

“It’s just…I’m worried if you try to drive in that condition.”

“I’m fine.”

“Yea, that’s why you nearly passed out.”

Miles paused with a heavy sigh. He just didn’t have the energy to deal with this on top of everything else weighing him down at the moment. “What do you want, Wright?”

Phoenix paused due to how completely exhausted the other man sounded. He had wanted to just talk with Miles, but now… “At the moment, I want you to be able to get some rest.”

“Who are you…my mother?” Miles slung his jacket on. “I don’t need babying, Wright.”

“I am not!” Phoenix squeaked, affronted. “I just…can’t I care about my friend!?”

Miles, once again, stilled.

Phoenix then jumped when a sardonic chuckle passed Miles’ lips.

“A friend, Wright? Tell me…does a friend ignore attempts of communication? Does a friend try to get an innocent man locked up? Does a friend constantly dismiss the other person?! There’s no way you and I are friends!”

Any other time, Phoenix might have been hurt at hearing that. However, what preceded the statement had drawn his attention instead.

“I don’t know what happened to you, Edgeworth. And I hope that one day, you can tell me. But until then…I still see you as a friend. Even if you don’t think you’re worth it, I do.” Phoenix stated firmly.

Miles once again rubbed between his eyes. “Unbelievable. This is the man who was literally bawling in a courtroom a few days ago……”

Phoenix chuckled and held out his hand. “Yea, well…Mia says it’s good that I can wear my heart on my sleeve.”

“What are you doing?”

“Waiting for you to hand me your coat.”

“The one I’m wearing?” Miles looked at him like he was an idiot.

Phoenix bobbed his head. “Yup. I heard these offices can be used all night if the people working here wanted to.”

Miles was too tired to try and follow the mental hoops Phoenix’s mind underwent on a daily basis.

“And since there’s no way I’m letting you drive like that…”

“I’m not drunk, Wright. And you’re not my keeper.” Miles bit out harshly.

“No, but you’re as white as a sheet and I’m your friend.”

“Self-proclaimed…” Miles attempted, but there was no more bite to his words out of pure exhaustion.

“Yup. So, the way I see it, there are a couple options. You let me call you a cab…but that’d mean leaving your car here and you probably don’t want to do that.”

A snort of agreement. Miles did admit that he was probably too tired to drive; stress, nightmares, and lack of sleep was certainly softening his edges a bit to be able to admit that to himself.

“Or, you take a nap here. I was planning on asking if you wanted to get coffee or something anyway so we could just talk or whatever, so I have no plans for the evening before you try to get rid of me.”

“I don’t need to be watched over.”

“But I want to. Besides, what if your phone rings or something?”

“You will not answer my phone, Wright!”

Phoenix grinned victoriously. “Then it’s agreed! You take a nap here!”

“Wait…what?!”

Miles was more than confused, particularly when he found himself laying on his own couch with his jacket over him like a weird blanket. He barely remembered Phoenix nudging him to sit…

“No, no, no…sit sideways, Edgeworth!”

“How does someone sit sideways?!”

…and the next thing he knew he was staring at the ceiling of his office while Wright made himself comfortable seated with his back to the closed door of the office as if to stop anyone from entering and interrupting.

Phoenix smiled at him when he noticed the gaze, and waved around a law book from the satchel he had on him. “I was on my way back from studying with Mia. So, I’ll just read.”

Miles felt embarrassed to have shown such a vulnerable side of himself. When was the last time he had even done so, anyway? Twelve years ago?

He never let anyone see him vulnerable if he could help it (reactions to elevators and earthquakes notwithstanding), yet somehow Phoenix had managed to get him in a vulnerable state not just back when they were kids…

…but then again after the trial a few days ago.

And now, again.

Miles’ eyelids felt heavy as lack of sleep caught up with him now that he was horizontal. He tried his hardest to not fall asleep in case he had a nightmare (like hell he wanted Phoenix to know about those or his sins), and he had half a mind to stand up.

The other half of his mind, however, had said “fuck it” and decided that he was rather comfortable and that he actually felt safe.

Not because it was his office…but because…

Miles drew his attention to the figure studiously reading from the law book.

…because…I don’t feel alone.

Even in the von Karma house, surrounded by maids/butlers, Manfred himself, and Franziska, he had felt completely isolated.

Now, however, there was a comforting warmth in the room which even he couldn’t seem to shrug off.

He was only human, and yearned for that comfort even though he tried to tell himself he either didn’t need it or didn’t deserve it.

Seems like Wright is determined to give it to me, regardless.

For that reason, he allowed himself to be vulnerable; his mind allowed him to relax, because he knew on some deep level that he was safe.

To that extent, he wasn’t even aware of when he drifted off…

…only that he awoke two hours later, feeling far more rested, without a single nightmare.

And then he had to wake Phoenix up, as the man had fallen asleep against the door in what looked like a rather uncomfortable position.

And yet, when Miles woke Phoenix up, the man merely rubbed his eyes and yawned, then looked up at him with a big smile.

And something inside of Miles shifted into a warmth he hadn’t felt for twelve years.

Chapter Text

It’s disgusting.

That was one of the many thoughts which ran through Phoenix’s mind as he sat in the court gallery during the trial.

His thoughts weren’t on how Miles had somehow managed to dodge him completely over the next couple of days, or how assertive he was currently being as the prosecutor.

No; Phoenix’s thoughts had to do with the young woman at the witness stand.

How did I ever fall in love with her? How did I not see any of that?

The fake smiles.

The crocodile tears.

The overly dainty “innocent” act.

Even the Judge, who should have known who Dahlia Hawthorne was at this point, was still smitten by her.

As were many males in the gallery.

But Phoenix merely felt ill as he watched.

Miles pursued her like a shark to blood; he wasn’t taking even an inch from her and went after the conviction as if she had personally wronged him.

“Are you alright?”

Phoenix nearly jumped, then remembered that Mia was sitting next to him. He felt like if he spoke he might throw up, so he just nodded.

Mia raised an eyebrow at him as her expression clearly screamed “objection”, but she didn’t call him out at least.

His hands were clenched together in his lap, and his mouth set in a firm line as he watched some sleazeball of a defense attorney attempt to assert that all the evidence was circumstantial.

That’s not what I want to be. I don’t want to defend the criminals, I want to defend the innocent. Phoenix’s eyes drew back to Miles when he man loudly declared an objection.

“As you can clearly see by these lab results, the poison found in the vial match the one found in the coffee cup.”

“Wha…where did those come from!? According to my information, there are only chemical compounds identified!”

Miles waggled his finger in a ‘tsk, tsk, tsk’ motion. “You obviously didn’t do your research properly. What I have is an official updated version of the lab report.”

Judge merely nodded. “It all looks in order, so I shall allow it as official evidence.”

Next to Phoenix, Mia scoffed.

“I can’t believe you think Edgeworth can be redeemed,” Mia whispered (the entire gallery was murmuring at this point anyway, so it covered up their own conversation perfectly). “An updated report?”

Phoenix swallowed hard against his nausea. “He’s been working hard on the case.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong…I want to see that witch get her come-uppance. But not by dirty methods.”

Phoenix glanced at her in confusion. Then, realization. “You don’t think…it’s forged?”

Mia’s silence spoke volumes of her opinion.

“Edgeworth wouldn’t…”

“Demon Prosecutor. He got his name for a reason.”

Phoenix shook his head. “I don’t think it’s forged.”

Mia sighed softly. “I want to believe that, too. Perhaps a few stretches of the truth. And certainly, I’d love it if she wound up with more charges. But first he managed to tie her to Fawles’ death, and now the second charge? The reason she walked after Fawles died was because there wasn’t enough evidence to pin her.”

That, and the only one who could have known committed suicide on the stand.

Yet, Miles Edgeworth managed to somehow prove that she murdered her sister.

Mia hated Dahlia, but she also hated Miles Edgeworth. “I want to call an objection.”

“Please don’t.” Phoenix mumbled. “And impulsive stuff is supposed to be my thing, anyway.”

Mia snorted in amusement, then the two fell silent as the rest of the gallery tapered off their own conversations since Miles just plunged straight on ahead.

It had been a long trial thus far, but that was because Dahlia was facing three separate murder charges.

Miles had decided to bring them up one at a time, starting with the oldest (at first as a way to prove how it was relevant to the actual charge of murder against Doug Swallow, then systematically to show that she was responsible for those as well).

Mia often muttered and bit her thumb during that part of the trial, and Phoenix had actually sweated a couple of times due to the piercing death glares she would give the court floor as a whole; as if she couldn’t decide who she hated more down there.

According to Mia, there were a couple new pieces of information Edgeworth showed which proves her guilt. She said during the recess that those facts weren’t known when she was defending Fawles.

Phoenix didn’t know the entire story about the first two cases Dahlia had been suspected of, but he still refused to believe that Miles used false information.

He’d done some research on von Karma, and hadn’t liked what he found. Him, I could see. He even has a single penalty on his record for that very thing.

Why the old coot wasn’t disbarred on the spot, Phoenix didn’t know.

What he did know, or at least believed in, was that Miles wasn’t like that; that his friend wouldn’t stretch the truth just for a guilty verdict.

Not anymore, especially. He seemed genuinely upset that I nearly went to jail. And…and he believes my innocence. Phoenix thought.

The back of his mind tried to nag at him that Dahlia was definitely guilty (at least in the case of Doug Swallow and Mia’s partner/lover, Armando) and thus it wasn’t like Miles was pursuing an incorrect verdict…

…but he silenced that thought because he just believed in his old friend.

You believed in Dahlia Hawthorne, too. Where did that get you, eh?

Phoenix gave a tiny shake of his head (good thing Mia was hyperfocused on the trial now and didn’t see him mentally arguing with himself). I still refuse to believe that the woman down there was the same Dollie I dated. Some of the expressions she’s making are ones I’ve never seen on Dollie’s face…even from a distance.

Perhaps he was still in denial, but he would swear that Dahlia Hawthorne and Dollie had been two different girls.

How that was possible, he didn’t know…which was why his mind (and the therapist) kept urging him to admit that he had been duped and his puppy love led him blindly into being framed for murder.

Okay, yea; he’d be more careful about falling in love (he hoped).

But believing…

He had to keep that up; it was a defense attorney’s greatest weapon, according to Mia:

Keep believing your client is innocent.

Phoenix frowned. I wonder if it’s the opposite for a prosecutor. That they have to keep believing that the defendant is guilty. It’s such a radical jump…why did Edgeworth change that? Why did he accept to be mentored by von Karma, who goes against everything Gregory Edgeworth stood for?

The objections from the defense were getting weaker, and Miles had a knowing smirk on his face as he laid things out for the Judge.

Then, the protests from the defense attorney stopped completely considering that he had run out of things he could object to.

The gavel came down.

“Very well. We shall take another 20 minute recess and then move onto the murder of Doug Swallow,” Judge called as he banged the gavel.

Mia let out a breath practically though her nose.

Phoenix didn’t dare ask her any questions since although she looked happy that Dahlia was definitely getting a conviction for her prior two actions, she also looked like she was going to throttle someone.

Phoenix did not want to be that “someone”.

The hardest part for Phoenix was for the trial of Doug Swallow. Mostly because he found himself in front of Miles Edgeworth during the recess in the witness lobby.

“H-hey. Guess…you’re talking to me again?” Phoenix ventured meekly. That, and if he didn’t try to lighten the mood, he swore he would suffocate between the heavy atmosphere and his own nerves.

Miles had his arms crossed, and was tapping his bicep. “I could probably do this without your testimony, and I will certainly attempt to do so by just using your court records from your own trial.”

Phoenix swallowed hard and nodded as he sat on the bench.

Due to getting a call that he might be needed as a witness, Mia had made sure that he “didn’t enter the court dressed like a slob” again.

So, he wore his blue button-down shirt and khaki slacks combo…as well as a pair of rather uncomfortable loafers since they hadn’t been broken in yet.

Boy, Mia had flipped when she heard he only had his ratty pair of sneakers.

“Th-that’s good.” Phoenix responded in the awkward silence. He then hazarded a glance up at the young man he still considered to be a “friend”.

…he just had to get to know him all over again, that was all.

“What?” Miles snapped, eyes narrowed as he looked away from Phoenix’s gaze.

He never makes eye contact with me. I wonder why that is…

“Are you going to accuse me of using falsified data, too?”

“What? No! You might have mentored under someone with questionable morals, but you’d never do that!”

Miles snorted. “A von Karma will do anything to get a guilty verdict. Surely you’ve heard of that from your mentor.”

“But you’re an Edgeworth.”

He had just sort of blurted it out, but it once again caused the lobby to fall silent.

It was only the two of them in there anyway, but perhaps that was why the silence was more stifling.

Phoenix had a million and one questions now, one being “why are you the opposite of what your dad, who you wanted to be like, was?”, but this was a really bad time for them.

Miles, meanwhile, looked like he had been blindsided for quite a few beats before he finally schooled his expression back into “neutral”.

…or “scowl”, more accurately.

“Considering that Manfred von Karma adopted me, that fact is arguable now.”

“Oh.” Phoenix answered before the sentence truly registered. When it did, he gaped and repeated himself. “Wait, what?! That…that sucks!”

Miles had a retort all set and ready, but it died on his tongue at the unusual response from Phoenix. How is it that he still manages to throw me for a loop?

Not as much as Larry Butz would (the kid had nearly driven him insane with his asinine ideas and mischief), but Phoenix’s open-mindedness had, even when they were children, sometimes thrown him off.

“Better than an orphanage.” Miles finally stated.

Phoenix decided not to follow up with it when he saw Miles’ nervous tell (the gripping of his sleeve). I’m not so sure. I don’t hear great things about orphanages, but…wait, why would von Karma adopt Edgeworth? Unless I’m remembering wrong and it was a different defense attorney who called him out on falsified evidence when I was looking into him…?

Considering that no other names would have stood out to him save perhaps Grossberg and Mia’s, he doubted that.

In the least, it gave him something else to think about instead of possibly having to give witness testimony.

…and, now he was thinking about that again.

“Hey, Edgeworth?”

“What?”

“I can still listen to the trial, right?”

Miles nodded. “You may return to the gallery. Like I said, I highly doubt I’ll need to call upon you in person. It’s just to have all my bases covered.”

Phoenix managed a small smile as he stood up. “You really do work hard at this.”

“Perfection is the word you’re looking for, Wright. I expect nothing less.”

“That’s…a harsh standard.” Phoenix pouted.

“For you, perhaps.”

“For anyone. Humans aren’t perfect, or we’d be robots.”

Miles scoffed.

Phoenix suddenly squinted at him. “Are…are you a robot, Edgeworth?”

The look Miles gave him would have been hilarious under any other circumstance.

Phoenix briefly wondered if Miles was punishing him for that “robot” comment, or if maybe it was due to him having pressed him too hard (though he really didn’t think he went super hard at it) for information about his past and von Karma.

Why?

Because here he was, at the witness stand, sweating buckets with his murderous ex-girlfriend seated in the defendant’s chair!

How had it come to this?

Was his court statement not good enough as evidence?

Did he have to repeat all of it all over again? What more was there to tell!?

In the very least, he knew where Mia was in the gallery…the problem was that it was difficult to see her with everyone else in there as well.

Which meant that he had to somehow hold his own here.

Dammit, Edgeworth…I know it’s standard procedure to have witnesses, but…!

Oh.

Maybe that was it.

His “perfection” stuff or whatever.

“Witness!”

Phoenix nearly jumped when Miles slammed his hand down on the desk, and he was only barely aware of the fact that the prosecutor looked more annoyed than before.

“Your name and occupation for the court.” Miles gritted his teeth. He seemed cursed to have witnesses who mucked about before actually answering.

Though, he couldn’t really blame Phoenix.

Phoenix nodded. “Phoenix Wright. Um…I’m studying law.”

It certainly went a lot better than his last appearance in court where he had blurted out “Phoenix Wright! Being accused of murder!” in his panic.

Miles nodded. “Now, in your own words, tell us of the events which occurred on April 9^th.”

Phoenix took a deep breath, then let it out. His palms were sweaty and his fingers tingled, while his feet felt cold and his stomach churned uneasily.

I’m not being accused of murder. It’s okay. I’m just a witness. I need to get used to being in rough situations anyway if I’m going to be a defense attorney.

“R-right.” He had been told to rehearse his story so he wouldn’t “sound like a fumbling fool”, in Miles’ words.

“Doug called me out to behind the Pharmacy Department building where he studied in order to discuss Do…Dahlia.” He swore he felt eyes just boring into the back of his skull, and he knew whom they belonged to. Don’t think, just talk.

“The meeting time was 2:45. He told me that…that she was under suspicion for stealing some chemicals from the lab. I…I didn’t believe him, and felt I had to stick up for my g-girl…friend…”

Keep it together, man!

“…ex, now, obviously. Um…yea. We got into an argument and I pushed him…”

What if they come back to accuse me of murder again!? What if this turns south?! What about when that greasy looking defense attorney goes to cross-examine me?!

It was suddenly hard to breathe, and he wasn’t sure if he could give the rest of his testimony since he felt like he had to focus all his energy on just drawing in oxygen.

Miles’ voice cut through his slightly whiting vision. “If the witness will stop hyperventilating to give the rest of his testimony, please.”

Phoenix gasped. Oh. That’s what’s happening. I’m not dying. Okay…right. Hyperventilating. Um…weird breathing? So, I just have to breathe normally?

Thankfully, nobody interrupted him as he took some steadying breaths until his vision was back to normal. He still felt like he was going to be sick, and his legs trembled beneath him, but oxygen no longer felt like it was in short supply.

That sucked.

Phoenix looked back up and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “S-sorry.”

Miles was tapping a finger against his arm, but oddly enough didn’t scold him. “If you can continue, please do so.”

So…we’re just ignoring that weirdness? Okay…I’m not complaining.

“Where was I…?”

“You pushed the victim.” The defense attorney chimed in, almost eager in his tone.

Miles clicked his tongue. “The defense will be reminded of the Double Jeopardy rule. The witness has already been cleared of suspicion regarding the death of the victim and cannot be tried for the same crime again.”

Phoenix fought against the childish urge to stick his tongue out at the defense attorney who wore his disappointment on his face.

“Witness, continue.” Miles instructed.

It sort of feels like Edgeworth is…on my side here.

It bolstered his confidence enough for him to stand up straight and continue:

“After I pushed him, I stormed off. That was around three-oh-clock.”

As if he could ever forget these particular dates and times. Not for a while, at least.

Heck, he still remembered the day and time of the class trial, and that was twelve years ago!

“But then I got worried because I had accidentally pushed him onto his umbrella. I didn’t know if he was hurt, and I couldn’t stomach it if he was and I’d left him. So, I went back…”

Okay, time for the new stuff. It wasn’t false…it was just the truth.

“When I got there, Doug was laying on his front, n-not moving…and Do…the defendant was there, kneeling in front of him. It looked like she was holding his hand, but she pulled her hands back before I could see. Other students started to trickle out, and the police were called shortly after.”

Miles nodded, satisfied.

Judge also bobbed his head, then said: “Well, the testimony is rather clear and does match up to the court records Prosecutor Edgeworth submitted before…”

Miles gave a little bow.

“…but, I’m required to ask if the defense wishes to proceed with the cross-examination since it is their right.” Judge honestly looked like he wanted to be done with the case.

Phoenix couldn’t blame him; he wanted to be done with this entire thing, too.

“Of course I will!” The greasy-haired defense attorney tapped his desk impatiently, then glared at Phoenix. “You were dating my client at that point, correct?”

“Uhh…well, sorta, yea…”

“Objection!” Miles protested. “That is irrelevant to the witness’ testimony. Even if the defense is stupidly trying to draw some line between the fact that they were dating prior to the incident, this witness was a lovesick fool and would have died for her at the time.”

“O-objection! That…that’s conjecture…!” The defense attorney sputtered.

Judge shook his head. “Overruled. We can see clearly in the early transcripts that what the prosecution says is true.”

The defense attorney seethed, and Phoenix made a note to never turn out like this sleazy dude. Maybe this is the reason Edgeworth turned away from defense? But his dad wasn’t like this piece of scum…

“Witness!” the defense attorney squeaked in his high-pitched voice. “You claim to have seen my client there…’holding his hand’. It’s proven that they’re ex lovers, so what would she have been doing? Answer that!”

Phoenix blinked a couple of times, then glanced at Miles (who looked exasperated yet cool as always), then back to the attorney. Is…is he serious with that question?

Was this guy an idiot?

Miles cracked an eye open, and his “everyone around me are idiots” expression could be clearly picked up by Phoenix.

It, again, gave him the boost to speak clearly:

“I didn’t say anything because her back was to me and I couldn’t see what she was doing, but if you’re asking for my opinion, counselor, that was the time when she was placing the bottle of poisoned Cold Killer X, which she had stolen from me during lunch, into the hand of the victim.”

The defense attorney sputtered, but Miles was ready.

“And as you can see from this report…” Miles flourished said document. “…the bottle was tested and came back with poison. The same type of poison this court has seen before. The defendant had been planning on poisoning the witness with it when she returned the bottle.”

“O-objection!” the defense attorney squawked. “Then how…!? Why did she give it to the victim?!”

Miles wiggled his finger. “Tsk. Someone hasn’t been paying attention. Recall in the prior case how she handed off the necklace containing the vial, which had been used to poison attorney Armando. People were gathering and there was a dead body…and she was right in the middle of it. If she was searched, they would find a poisoned bottle of cold medicine.”

“And…and who’s to say she didn’t intend to take it, herself!? Like…suicide!” the defense floundered.

Miles gave an exaggerated ‘shrug’ motion with a smirk. “Why not get her own bottle for it, then? She could have just as easily overdosed on her own bottle instead of stealing the one with the witness’ fingerprints on it and adding poison for extra measure.”

The silent “are you a complete idiot, or were you born that way?” went unsaid, but Phoenix could practically hear it in the air.

Honestly, Phoenix couldn’t blame Miles’ attitude; the defense attorney was grasping at straws due to the fact that there were no contradictions in Phoenix’s testimony.

Phoenix had thought he would wind up running out of the courthouse, or freaking out more that he was speaking out against his psychopathic ex.

Yet, having Miles there…on his side…was just as reassuring as it was twelve years ago.

Every ‘objection’ was in his defense, and every piece of evidence Miles provided as a result of the defense walking into trap after trap was in support of Dahlia’s guilt (and keeping the heat off of Phoenix).

Phoenix knew that part of it was Miles’ entire “perfection” shtick (which he made a mental note to talk to the guy about; that mentality wasn’t healthy and probably put a lot of strain on him)…

…but the other part of him liked to believe that Miles Edgeworth had his back.

And that made a warmth swell up in his chest to the point where he was able to stand tall in the courtroom despite the circumstances.

All nervousness was gone, and even his nausea was (mostly) quelled.

Phoenix clued back in as the Judge banged his gavel.

“If there are no more questions, then the witness may return to his seat.”

The defense attorney sputtered, but Miles just raised an eyebrow at him with a smirk.

The Judge banged the gavel, and Phoenix let out a quiet breath of relief.

He then smiled gratefully at Miles (who avoided his eyes…again) and managed to walk away without wobbling or even looking at the girl seated in the defense chair.

…which was probably for the best considering that she was rapidly losing her “sweet” and “innocent” composure in light of what Miles was doing and had a look in her eyes reminiscent of...well, the psycho mass-murderer that she was.

There were a few more exchanges on the floor as Phoenix made his way back to the gallery and found his spot next to Mia, but it was pretty much just the defense grasping at straws which weren’t there and Miles putting the final nails in the coffin.

“You alright?” Mia asked, almost similarly to how she had asked about his well being during the second part of the trial.

Phoenix took a deep breath, then let it out and smiled at her since he felt a sense of relief.

The betrayal from “Dollie” was still there, but knowing that Miles had his back down there at the witness stand had given him more strength than he realized.

So, he answered honestly this time:

“Yea. I think I’ll be fine.”

And when the gavel came down and the Judge pronounced Dahlia Hawthorne “guilty of all charges”, Phoenix felt a great relief be released from his shoulders.

He was a little concerned with her threats to Miles, but even Miles just brushed it off.

Phoenix felt like laughing, mostly as a relief of the tension. I bet he gets death threats from all the actually guilty defendants.

Mia raised an eyebrow at him due to his chortles, but didn’t call him out on it when she saw a clarity in his eyes which hadn’t been there since she met him. “Trial’s over. Want to get dinner?”

Phoenix stood up and stretched, his limbs still a little shaky but generally lighter than before, much like his entire body. “Can I invite Edgeworth?”

Mia gave him a flat look.

“Please? He helped me down there on the stand!” Phoenix turned on his best puppy-dog eyes.

Mia pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine. But I’m only saying ‘yes’ because I know he’s not going to accept…”

“Thanks, Mia!” Phoenix beamed at her, then made his way down to the prosecutor who was gathering up his files. “Hey, Edgeworth…!”

Mia watched as the gallery started to file out, a sardonic grin on her face. I wish I could see what you see, Phoenix. He still managed to turn up new evidence on a case a year old, and had an “updated report” from a case about a week old.

She watched as Miles seemed to recoil from Phoenix before he slammed his briefcase shut…

…and a paper fluttered down which he had missed, so he had to open it back up and stuff the paper back in.

Phoenix had a dopey grin on his face as he tried to cajole the other, who looked almost embarrassed.

Mia crossed her arms with a curious expression. I don’t like him, but I can’t call him completely heartless. He did shout for EMTs to be called when Fawles collapsed on the stand a year ago, and was one of the people who called for them again when Phoenix collapsed during his own trial.

Yet, if he was using forged or bad evidence…

Mia couldn’t forgive that as a practitioner of the law.

She clued back in when she noticed that Miles had left, and Phoenix gave her a pout and a thumbs-down.

So, she descended from the gallery with a quirked “I told you so” brow.

“I’m not giving up!” Phoenix declared. “Edgeworth helped me out again today, even if he says that wasn’t his intention! He’s a good person inside, I just have to show him that!”

“Way deep, if he is…” Mia muttered as they exited the courtroom.

“But still there!” Phoenix declared.

Mia paused to consider something. “Though, I will admit…that’s really the first time I saw him get flustered. When you asked him to join us, that is.”

Phoenix grinned. “Edgeworth was always a bit awkward as a kid.”

Mia typically wouldn’t be interested in hearing about the man (more than she already had to with how much Phoenix talked about saving him), but childhood stories?

Yes, please.

“Tell me more?” Mia grinned.

“Of course! There was this one time when Larry…he’s our other friend…wanted to have a sleepover, but apparently Edgeworth had never been to one! He actually tried to turn in at eight-thirty, and then was stunned when we threw pillows at him! He fought back after he understood what was happening, but then…!”

Hmm…blackmail material if he ever hurts Phoenix. Also, wow. He was a socially awkward kid, but he sounds like he was……cute. In that adorkable way.

It was hard for her to picture some of the things Phoenix was telling her, but she did her damndest. Wasn’t every day she got to find out about the softer, awkward side of the freaking Demon Prosecutor, after all.

Chapter Text

Miles didn’t want to confront Phoenix, particularly after the trial, and had once again performed adequately in dodging the other for the next couple days. He was wondering how he was going to avoid Phoenix now that it was Saturday, and let out a sigh when he heard a knock on his office door.

Yet…it was different from how Phoenix knocked…

Why am I so insistent on avoiding him, anyway? Memories of the past? The feelings I get when I’m around him?

In any case, he should probably let whomever was on the other side to come in…

The door opened before he could even call out, and he froze at the familiar man who stood there.

“Not even going to acknowledge a guest. Ah, the life of a prosecutor. Then again, I suppose it would be negative for your image if you associated with riff-raff…more than your image has already gone down.”

Miles shot to his feet, eyes slightly wide at this unexpected visit. “Sir…”

Manfred von Karma strolled into the office casually as his cane tapped against the floor.

Miles was suddenly glad that he hadn’t had a chance to set up that Steel Samurai figurine yet. He never comes to my office…what’s he doing here?

“Quaint.” Manfred glanced at the framed suit shirt on the wall, then looked back at the stunned young man. “Don’t look so surprised, Edgeworth. I was in the area…seems I’ll be in Japanifornia for a little while on some business.”

That doesn’t explain why you’re visiting!

Miles wondered why he felt so nervous. Was he always nervous in his mentor’s presence? There had always been some nerves, but not on this level…

“Did all the manners I taught you go in one ear and out the other?”

“Ah…apologies. I wasn’t expecting anyone……would you like some tea?” Miles recovered quickly. Drilled into me, more like it. No, I shouldn’t be thinking negatively about him. He took me in instead of sending me to an orphanage, which is infinitely better despite what Wright thinks.

“Pass.” Manfred turned his piercing stare back to Miles. “I heard about your last trial. Good thing it wasn’t that what’s-his-name who defeated you.”

“Miss Fey.”

“Whatever. I can hardly be expected to remember the name of the insects of the defense. You shouldn’t, either.” Scolded the older man.

Miles frowned and looked at his desk. “It’s hard to forget the name of the person who is responsible for a stain on your record.”

“Don’t presume I know how that feels.” Manfred’s voice was like ice, and it made Miles shiver.

“Sorry, sir.”

“As you should be. Now that said, I heard of your…search…for more information before the trial. I do hope you are grateful for the strings I had to pull for the Fawles case.”

Miles blinked owlishly. He, himself, had pulled some strings with some chemistry labs in order to confirm that the deteriorated compounds in the glass vial had matched to the ones in the coffee, but…

He had tried to pull strings on the Fawles case, and the most he was able to get was pretty much the same thing he had back then when he tried the case…

Except that when he checked again after making more phone calls and wondering if he was going to be able to link Dahlia Hawthorne to her sister’s death with actual concrete evidence, Gumshoe excitedly called and informed him that they had received a tip the day before the trial.

Oh.

“That was your tip?”

Manfred tapped his cane on the ground a couple times. “You should have been the one to do it, but I suppose I have more…connections than you. I didn’t do it to help you, Edgeworth. I did it so that you wouldn’t smear the von Karma name again.”

Miles had trouble looking at the man. “I…thank you all the same. I’m surprised anything new was even found.”

A scoff from the older man. “Just who do you think I am? A von Karma will do anything to get a guilty verdict. And you rather stupidly decided to try and charge Hawthorne with three counts of murder instead of just the two.”

“I’ve been wanting to pin her to that trial for a year,” Miles admitted.

“Yes…it showed.” Manfred sneered. “What have I told you about emotions? They’re useless, Edgeworth! They’re for the weak! But you let yours get away from you when you decided to add that third charge.

“Not only did you let your emotions carry you on that, like a fool, but you didn’t even bother to make sure that you could get her charged with all three counts. If it hadn’t been for me, you would have only been able to convict her on the first two counts. You would have blemished our name again.”

Miles swallowed past shame. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you aren’t. Apparently, you’re just an ungrateful brat.”

The sound of the cane meeting the ground might as well have been a gunshot.

It was deafening to Miles, at least. His mouth felt dry as he said: “I got the conviction. All three counts. And I do appreciate…”

“Actions speak louder than words.” Came the interruption. “And your actions are that of a weak child who can’t do anything right.”

Miles flinched.

Manfred strolled over to stand right in front of the desk. “You were already on thin ice with me, Edgeworth. If you felt grateful, you would have gone through the proper channels. These are strings you should have pulled when you added that third charge.”

Another tap of the cane, and Miles’ brain was starting to wonder about something.

After all, he had done everything in his power to find more evidence. He reached out to every witness he could about that case, and even attempted to find other relatives of the victim he could speak to.

He had visited the location (as a bonus, it allowed him to avoid Phoenix) as well, but had come back empty-handed.

“Those strings you pulled…how…?”

“It’s like I’ve been saying. A von Karma will do anything to get a guilty verdict. Anything. That’s a lesson you still haven’t embraced to its fullest extent…otherwise, you wouldn’t have allowed that one man to walk.”

The word “anything” seemed to echo uneasily in Miles’ mind and caused a sinking feeling in his gut.

“Was that evidence…fabricated?” Miles felt slightly faint. “What I used in court…”

“Oh, please. Gant approved of it, so what are you worried about?” Manfred scoffed.

Gant…the Chief of Police. Approved of…evidence which was most likely forged somehow. Illegitimate. There had been rumors before, but I always denied using fabricated evidence whenever the press tried to find something.

Because as far as he knew, he hadn’t used any.

“If the defense had been sharper…” Miles steadied himself on his desk, still reeling with this revelation. I used fabricated evidence…

Yes, it was just for one of the three charges; the girl was going to death row regardless, but now he had to actually play dumb.

Something like this could have ruined his career or disbarred him!

“Those insects would never figure it out even if that was the case.”

Miles noted that his mentor was very carefully avoiding any damning words.

It was forged, though. It was false. It seemed real enough, but…

He wasn’t surprised that fake evidence made it past Gumshoe, but he hated that he hadn’t realized it. He had tried the Fawles case, for crying out loud!

“Anything, Edgeworth. You’ve been using von Karma techniques while in court. This is just one more technique. You either need to learn the correct strings to pull or you’ll have your own cut.”

In other words, go as far as falsifying data and evidence to get a guilty verdict to satisfy the von Karma name.

Could he even do that? Purposely use fake evidence?

It was one thing to withhold evidence from the defense and let them stumble into his traps (though he was even beginning to question that); it was a completely different game to…to…be some corrupt prosecutor!

“Weak.” Manfred sneered at Miles’ expression. “You’ve come this far, however. You can’t turn back now, Edgeworth. Too far gone…it would be a shame to cut you off now. On the other hand, you seem lacking in your resolve.”

Miles found he couldn’t say a word.

So, Manfred dealt the final blow as he smirked at the young man over his shoulder as he had turned around to leave. “Hilarious. You used to idolize a defense attorney, did you not? A very by the book one, too…always on the straight and narrow. I wonder what your former idol would have to say about you now. Your hands aren’t fully covered in dirt, but they’re still dirty, Edgeworth.”

Miles felt like the wind had been knocked out of him, and when he finally came back to his senses he was gripping his desk tightly and there was neither hide nor hair of von Karma.

He stumbled back into his chair and practically collapsed in it as sweat trickled down his neck. I’ve most likely sent innocent people to jail. I nearly condemned Wright. I might have been using fabricated evidence without even knowing it…in this corrupt system where even Gant is fine with that…

But the million dollar thought was that last final parting shot.

Miles rested his elbows on his desk, then buried his face in his hands. He didn’t weep, but instead he tried to regulate his breathing so as not to have a panic attack. My father…

It was little wonder what the man would think of him now.

That all along I’ve been doing these awful things. I’m everything he stood against. What would he think? He would hate me, too…

His mentor obviously hated him; he made that clear over their last few conversations.

It felt like an icy hand gripped his insides, and Miles shivered. He had been ‘alone’ for a long time, but he was only human…and, he hadn’t truly been alone.

Now…

There’s no way this is redeemable.

He briefly entertained the thought of throwing himself out the window, but then recalled that he would then have to face his father beyond the grave.

I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye. Not after everything I’ve done…

He was the scum of the Earth.

No, worse than scum; he was a horrible excuse for a human being.

A timid knock broke his thoughts, but Miles didn’t feel like entertaining whomever it was. “I’m busy.”

“You’re not a horrible person, Edgeworth.”

Miles didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the (oddly serious) familiar voice. He didn’t bother to lift his head as he felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders…or maybe that was just guilt…as he managed a choked out acknowledgement of his next visitor:

“…Wright.”

Phoenix hadn’t gone to Miles’ office with the intent to eavesdrop. Rather, he had gone there to thank the man since Miles had made himself scarce since the trial and Phoenix wanted to show his gratitude (and try to get to know his old-new friend).

It was when he had been walking down the hall, lost in thought of how to best approach his friend without scaring him off, that he had heard the scathing voice from the office.

Then, he had ducked against the wall after a single glance into the room.

Holy…that creepy old dude is Manfred von Karma!?

More importantly was what the creepy old dude was saying to his friend.

He only heard the latter half of the scolding, but it had been enough to confirm Mia’s theory of forged evidence…only, Miles didn’t seem to realize it had been.

Then had been the low blow of so casually mentioning Miles’ father.

Phoenix really wanted to deck the old creep, but instead wound up pressing himself behind some old basketball hoop (which had a sign taped to it that read: “get rid of me already, I’m an eyesore”) in the hallway.

Since von Karma hadn’t even glanced around before he casually strolled out of the office…like he’s on a walk in the freaking park instead of visiting someone he half raised!…it meant Phoenix hadn’t been seen.

Phoenix didn’t dare move until the evil old man had turned the corner, and even then he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do or say.

But when he inched over and peered into the office (as the man had left the door open) and saw Miles looking so small and alone, and muttering about guilt and being horrible, he spoke before his brain caught up to him after he knocked.

“You’re not a horrible person, Edgeworth.”

A mumbled acknowledgement of his name was all he got, but Phoenix wasn’t expecting too much.

Rather, he closed the door behind him. “Was that von Karma? What a jerk! I can’t believe you had to…to live with a guy like that for twelve years! That’d change anybody!”

“There’s nothing wrong with me or how I was raised, Wright!” Miles snapped back defensively, but there was a hint of desperation in his voice and he hadn’t yet lifted his head.

Phoenix crossed his arms. “Nope. You’re not getting rid of me by cutting me with your tone or words! What he said to you was out of line, and you look like you need a friend…and hey, what do you know! I’m here now, so I’ll be that friend!”

“I don’t need anyone!” Miles was confused, and he knew he was lashing out, but he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be feeling or doing. Just that guilt was consuming him, and why wouldn’t Wright just go away like everyone else in his life!?

As if to make a point of the opposite, Phoenix plopped himself (loudly) down on the couch in the room and crossed his arms petulantly. “I’m not leaving until you’re feeling better.”

Miles let out a bitter laugh. “You’ll be here for eternity.”

“If that’s what it takes.”

Miles’ mind nearly skidded to a halt despite the whirlwind of spiraling thoughts. “What are you on about, Wright? Why are you so determined to be here with someone like me? You overheard some, didn’t you? Well, congratulations! You can turn me in and tell your mentor she was right! Don’t think I don’t know that she suspects me of…”

“I’m not telling anyone, because there was never any confirmation that it was true. I mean, I didn’t hear anyone say the evidence was actually fabricated. So, it was just a threat or something circumstantial or hearsay and thus cannot be used as evidence in a legal setting.” Phoenix declared.

Miles’ shoulders slumped, and he finally looked up. There was a tiredness; a bone-weary exhaustion on his face and a hopelessness in his eyes which did not belong on the face of a 21 year old.

“What do you want, Wright? Just leave.”

“Absolutely not.” Phoenix, his arms still crossed like a child, looked at the other with eyes of pure determination. “I wouldn’t be allowed to claim I care about you if I left you when you’re in this state.”

“I’m an adult, Wright. I don’t need babysitting.” The protest was weak, and Miles felt it sounded stupid even to his own ears.

“Spending time with a friend isn’t babysitting. And that guy was a prick to you. I don’t care if he raised you for twelve years or not. He was way out of line! Does he always talk to you like that?” Phoenix said.

Miles looked away as he slumped in his chair. He didn’t have the energy to keep up any sort of pretense of dignity, nor did he feel he had any right to look down his nose at others considering that, though Phoenix claimed it to be “circumstantial” or “hearsay”, Miles knew that von Karma had submitted fabricated evidence.

Phoenix took the silence as a ‘yes’. “Edgeworth…that’s not how someone talks if they really care about you.”

“I’ve treated you no better since we met again in the beginning of April this year.”

“Well…yea, you were caustic and rude and stuff, but you weren’t as bad as him! And you aren’t that bad, now. Deep down, you’re not a bad person. You’re a good one.”

Miles shook his head with a slightly hysterical chuckle. “I’m not. You thought that Dahlia Hawthorne was a good person…your blind faith is hardly inspiring!”

“I still swear by that the ‘Dollie’ I knew and ‘Dahlia’ are two different people, so that’s different.”

Another snicker. “You sound insane, Wright. Are you proposing she has a long lost twin or something?”

Phoenix shrugged. “Could be. I never learned much about her family.”

“Your delusions aside, my point still stands.”

“Not if my theory of them being two different people are true!”

Miles sighed heavily. What even is this ridiculousness?

“Edgeworth…why are you trying so hard to prove that you’re a terrible person?”

The response was a bitter: “Do I really need to verbalize that?”

Phoenix shrugged. “I mean, it might make you feel better.”

Miles frowned as he stared blankly at the wall. “I’d rather not.”

“That’s fine.” Phoenix hoped to get him to talk, but he knew that pushing Miles could have the opposite effect. When we were kids, it usually just got him to be defensive or angry. He’d later open up about it, but I stopped pushing because I’d feel bad for embarrassing him.

Rather, he would typically just wait for Miles to open up. Sometimes it wasn’t immediate and he had to wait a day or two (and he typically wasn’t the most patient guy out there), but it was always worth it.

Plus, that way, nobody went home angry/sad/hurt.

Miles glanced over at the other man and wondered what went through Phoenix’s head.

Phoenix, meanwhile, had uncrossed his arms and had…pulled out one of his law books again?

“Wright……what are you doing?”

“Giving you some space, but staying here so you know you aren’t alone.” Phoenix declared. “You said you don’t wanna talk. I think you should, but I’m not going to force you. Actually, you look like you can use a nap if you…”

“Absolutely not. That was a one time fluke.”

Miles was tired, but not so much physically as mentally. His mind was far too active right now for him to even think about laying down, yet he couldn’t seem to focus on the case file in front of him.

Instead, oddly enough, he felt like he just wanted to hear Phoenix’s voice. It was strange, and he couldn’t explain why or how, or even where this thought came from, but it was some weird yearning.

“I don’t want to talk, but you…can if you want.” Miles said quietly.

Phoenix looked up in surprise, then took in the odd vulnerability in Miles’ eyes before the man looked back at his desk with a frown.

So, Phoenix smiled and closed his book. “Well, um…Mia says that I’m coming along well! I want to pass the bar exam as soon as I can, so I’m studying my butt off!”

Miles crossed his arms over his chest. “You?”

“Right?” Phoenix chuckled. “But yea! Oh, but it’s my job to water Charley.”

“…who?”

“Her plant. She likes to do it, too, but it’s kind of neat to talk to Charley sometimes because Charley doesn’t judge.”

“You talk…to a plant.” Miles’ voice was half deadpan, and half incredulous.

Phoenix beamed, glad that his blabbering seemed to be helping. He especially wanted to steer the conversation away from courts and the legal system as a complete distraction, and thought he nearly botched it when he started off by talking about his progress as a defense attorney trainee.

So…plants.

“I was thinking of getting a potted plant for my apartment. Okay, it’s nana’s apartment. I might have found something, but still living with nana for now. But yea! I don’t think any plant I get would be as big as Charley, but…”

Miles felt himself slowly relax as Phoenix rambled about plants. It was…pleasant. Even though Miles barely contributed to the conversation, Phoenix seemed more than happy to chat to him.

And for that, Miles was grateful in a way he certainly couldn’t describe at the moment.

Phoenix, meanwhile, just hoped that his inane chatter could alleviate his friend’s pain, if even for a little while. You’re not as bad as you think you are, Edgeworth. And, I can see your old self poking through now and then. You’re my friend, and I’ll remind you every day if I need to.

For the first time since he was put on trial for murder, Phoenix felt a swell of happiness in his chest greater than any of the other little moments.

Probably because this was more than just a “little” moment, and as he somehow started to get into some crazy things Larry got up to (or the times he showed up on campus and caused chaos), Phoenix felt like this was a step in the right direction.

Yea, you’ve done some questionable stuff. And one of those things did hurt me. But I forgive you, Edgeworth. Now that I’ve heard your foster father talk…the stuff he poisoned your mind with, it’s no wonder.

Phoenix just hoped that one day, Miles could see that, too.

Chapter Text

Everything was hazy and mostly dark.

His breaths came out in wheezing gasps as he struggled to get oxygen into his lungs while his shirt clung to his body with the sweat of being trapped in an elevator for hours.

Then, there were shouts from the panicked bailiff which bounced off of the giant tomb they were in and hit his ears, but he didn’t feel he had the strength to cover them.

“My air…you’re breathing my air!”

“Knock it off…!”

“Stop breathing my air!!”

His father had been next to him at one point, but was now grappling with the panicked bailiff.

All Miles could do was watch the two forms in detached horror; there was nothing he could do against adults, and he felt like if he moved then he would either throw up or pass out.

Then, he saw the gun on the ground at his feet.

Since Miles had never fired a gun before, he didn’t dare try to actually discharge the thing. Rather, the sounds of the scuffle grated on his ears and he had been growing more and more concerned that the bailiff would actually kill his dad if things went on.

Miles gathered his remaining strength to pick the gun up. He nearly collapsed when he tried to stand, but somehow got a surge of adrenaline at the thought that his father would die in the scuffle.

So, he chucked the gun at the form of the bailiff as he screamed:

“Don’t hurt my dad!”

He heard two more sounds before he passed out.

BLAM!

“ARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!”

***

Darkness.

Then, a steady beeping reached his ears as a blurry hospital ceiling came into view.

What was he doing here? He didn’t remember…

Except for a loud BANG and a scream.

Miles shot up and somehow got out of bed (hadn’t he been slightly dizzier before?), and nearly collided with a nurse whose face he couldn’t make out. “My dad…where’s my dad!?”

It wasn’t the nurse who answered, but suddenly the tall form of Manfred von Karma.

“Dead. He died of a gunshot to the chest.”

“No…”

“Don’t talk back to me.” Manfred’s voice became cold as he slammed his cane down on the ground. “Your father is dead and it’s all your fault.”

His fault…?

Right.

It was his fault.

Because he had been there in that elevator…because he had thrown the gun…

“Some quack psychic pointed out the bailiff as the killer, but the defense managed to get him off. What a pity. As for you, you will be coming with me.”

The next thing Miles knew, he was seated at a desk as Manfred paced behind him; he was writing something with a bunch of books out.

Then, the cane came down on the desk, which startled him so badly that he jumped.

“Wrong answer! Your father must have raised you to be an imbecile, but I will not stand for it! Are those tears? Crying is for children and the weak.”

Miles wanted to argue that he was a child, when suddenly the scene transformed again and he realized that he was sitting at his prosecutor’s desk.

Manfred had a sneer on his face. “You’ll use fabricated evidence to get your verdicts. You’ll lie, cheat, and get new copies of reports hours before the trial so the defense will be squashed. Hide evidence you find which may point to the defendant being innocent.”

Miles struggled with the rules. “But…that would mean sending innocent people to jail.”

“Winning is all that matters. Perfection is all that matters! Didn’t I tell you to throw away those useless emotions!?”

Miles cringed as the cane smacked his desk again.

“Yet, you managed to let that one man off the hook! Didn’t I tell you to conceal evidence which weakens your case!? You didn’t do that, and he walked!”

“No, I…!!”

“So…I took the opportunity to take over that case.”

Miles blanched. “But…why? How? Double…”

“I have connections and pulled strings.” The smirk on Manfred’s face was downright psychopathic now, and his teeth gleamed eerily in the lighting. “You’re welcome to break the news to that pathetic worm in the detention center that he’s going to prison…all in your name.”

“My…name…?”

“Better hurry before he’s sent to the gallows. It’s your last goodbye to your…what is that word?…friend.”

Then, he was running.

The areas around him were a blur, and he didn’t know why he didn’t just take his car, but he did somehow get to the detention center.

Seated on the other side of the plexiglass was Phoenix, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“I’m…going to death row?” Phoenix sobbed.

Miles shook his head. He didn’t remember telling him, but somehow…

“Why? I’m innocent, Edgeworth! How could you do this to me? I thought we were friends!”

He wanted to say something, but the words stuck in his throat and he just wound up mumbling something even his own ears couldn’t discern.

Phoenix shook his head, seemingly having been able to understand. “No, you had a choice! You’ve always had a choice!”

“I didn’t…!”

“We’re adults, Edgeworth! You could have left von Karma, but instead you’ve taken his lessons to heart it seems. Coldly…with no emotions…and doing everything your dad would have been aghast at!”

“Don’t bring my father into it!”

A voice at his shoulder caused him to startle.

“I’ll bring myself in, then.”

Miles turned and gasped, then recoiled into the glass when he saw Gregory Edgeworth.

The man was dressed just as he was the day he died, and even had a giant stain of blood and a bullet wound around his chest.

His expression was grave and disappointed. “I can’t believe you condemned an innocent man. And he’s not the only innocent you put on death row. How many of those defendants actually deserved to hang or rot in prison?”

“D-dad…”

“You could have been standing up for people like Phoenix, but you chose to follow von Karma’s ever word. You’re a liar, Miles.”

“N-no…”

“A scoundrel. A cheat. You’ve even used fabricated evidence.”

“I didn’t know it was fabricated!”

The man…corpse?…shook his head in disgust. “You are a sorry excuse of a human being.”

Miles wanted to protest, but all he could do was curl up into a ball and shake his head and-or whisper apologies.

“You’re not actually sorry. Or you wouldn’t have done it in the first place. I raised you to have morals and value human life…and you decide to do the exact opposite. You are the worst.”

Then, the nail in the coffin:

“I can’t stand you. You are not my son.”

Miles woke with a start and a choked off sob. For a moment, he thought he was going to be sick, but managed to keep it together after a couple moments of just trying to breathe through the ache in his chest.

His hands trembled and his vision was fuzzy; it was hard to breathe and oxygen was in short supply.

Everything around him was a blur as he frantically tried to untangle the sheets…

Sheets?

Miles gasped and pressed the back of his hand to his mouth as he squeezed his eyes shut.

Sweat rolled down his neck, and his pajamas were stuck to his back from sweat while his cheeks were damp from…

…tears?

After the current wave of nausea passed, Miles wiped his eyes and cheeks and then managed to untangle himself from the sheets this time and stood up on unstable legs.

It was just a nightmare. It’s not real…none if it was…

Except maybe the first part.

And some of von Karma’s words.

And…

Had he sent Phoenix to his death? And other innocents?

No. Wright is not in prison nor on death row.

He really couldn’t say the same for others he had prosecuted.

The words uttered from his father echoed in his mind, and he shuffled down the hallway to the kitchen unit…then stopped and stared into the living room when he heard a noise which sounded like…

…a snore?

Oh.

Now Miles remembered.

In his state of emotional vulnerability and weakness, he had allowed Phoenix to come to his apartment, then Phoenix had loudly declared “sleepover” and Miles had been too tired to kick him out.

Thus, the young man currently snoozing on his couch with a blanket tossed over him.

His…friend?

Miles shook his head and got his glass of water, though he noted that his hands didn’t shake anymore. It’s strange that his presence is oddly comforting.

Especially considering what sort of monster Miles was.

The young prosecutor took a gulp of water and leaned against the counter to gaze out into the living room. If father was alive, he would definitely hate what I’ve become. I…I somehow became everything he hated. A prosecutor who only cares about winning instead of actual justice…a liar…a cheater…

And someone who would stop at nothing to get a guilty verdict regardless if the defendant was actually guilty or not.

Miles closed his eyes. If I hadn’t taken over that case and met Wright…would I have continued down that path? Would I have knowingly used falsified evidence at some point? Or…or…

He had stretched the truth quite a lot during his year of prosecuting here in Japanifornia.

He had withheld evidence so long as the defense didn’t force him to reveal it…or would only reveal partial evidence.

All for a stupid guilty verdict.

And for what?

What did he get out of that?

Some feeling of superiority over lowlives? Proving to von Karma, and himself, that he was nothing short of perfect?

If that nightmare is more than a nightmare, I might be a lowlife, too.

Even if that elevator incident hadn’t actually happened, the fact of the matter was that his father was still dead because of his actions; because he had been there.

Which meant that he as good as killed the man himself.

Same with any innocent people he condemned.

Miles didn’t realize he was crying until a tear landed on his hand, which he had rested on the counter.

I became an absolute monster. A garbage human. All for the ideals of a man who took me in instead of sending me to an orphanage.

He’d been grateful.

To some extent, he still felt that way…but now, a new emotion was welling up whenever he thought about all the threats, lectures, and standard of warped perfection he constantly had to meet:

Anger.

He suddenly didn’t want to do things as von Karma said. Even though the man had taken him in, Miles was sure that his father would despise him now.

That even Phoenix wouldn’t have forgiven him if he had gotten him a guilty verdict during that trial…and on that note, the real killer would have walked to probably kill for a fourth time.

If seeing Phoenix hadn’t caused him to question himself…if Mia Fey hadn’t pushed…

It could have been a reality.

“…orth?”

The only person who, even after hearing about the “Demon Prosecutor”, still said that he cared…

“…geworth?”

The only person who still thought that he was human and could be redeemed despite how awful he had become…

“Edgeworth?”

Miles nearly jumped, then blinked as he realized that the light was on and a slightly bedraggled Phoenix was standing on the other side of the counter, a concerned look on his face.

“Sorry…woke up and heard…” Phoenix decided not to call out his friend for the crying, even though there were still tears on Miles’ face. “Nevermind. So, uh, wanna hang out a bit? Or talk about it?”

Miles sighed, but allowed Phoenix to lead him to his own sofa as he sat down.

What was the point in fighting Phoenix’s attempts to be friends? He had to admit that it made him feel better…

…even though he didn’t deserve it.

Ah.

That was why he fought the friendship so hard.

He wanted to pull away, but Phoenix didn’t let him get up to run off.

“Nope! I’m not going to let you retreat back to your room or something and then lie awake for the rest of the night because my friend was out here in pain and I couldn’t do anything!” Phoenix caught Miles’ hand.

Miles made a noise of protest, but found himself pulled back down onto the couch.

“So…uh, obviously, I think you should talk about it. Ya know, it doesn’t have to be to me. I’ve never told anyone this, not even nana…but Mia is having me see a…erm…a therapist. To work out that I was nearly murdered and all.”

Miles wanted to scoff, but it came out more of a sigh.

“Or, you can talk to me. Just…geez. How can I help you, Edgeworth? What can I do?”

Miles looked away from the other, head bowed. “…leave.”

Phoenix frowned. “Would that make you happy?”

No. It most certainly wouldn’t. But that’s the point.

“Yes. Now leave.”

“Objection.” Phoenix didn’t shout it, thankfully. “You’re lying and I can tell.”

Dammit.

“Wright, just leave.”

“Absolutely not. Not when I know that you’re bluffing, and then that’d be leaving you here by yourself when you’re hurting. I absolutely cannot do that in good conscience.”

“Do you think I would have done the same for you a year ago? Or even a month ago? So why do it for me?!” Miles snapped.

“Because I care.” Phoenix said simply. “You’re my friend. And a month ago, you’d forgotten about that because you were being turned into an emotionless robot.”

“…I am not a robot, Wright.”

“You know what I mean.”

Miles shifted in agitation. “Just leave already! I don’t care if you care! I don’t even deserve your concern! So just pretend I don’t exist and get out!”

Rather than recoil or do as he was told, Phoenix instead asked: “Why don’t you think you deserve my concern?”

Oops.

To be fair to Miles, it was three in the morning and he had woken up from the mother of all nightmares…not to mention the crazy week he’d been having.

“Edgeworth?”

Miles rubbed his arm nervously, the fight gone from him. “I…don’t know how you can stand to look at me, Wright.”

“Because you’re my friend.”

“Stop saying that!” Yep, definitely guilt there. “I haven’t been a friend to you! Why would you want someone like me as your friend!?’

“You saved me. Twelve years ago…and a few days ago, too. When I started to panic on the witness stand. Your voice stopped that. Then, you said I was hyperventilating so I was able to focus on my breathing.”

Miles shook his head in denial. “I was…just doing my job…”

“You could have let me pass out, but you didn’t. Or let me stumble over myself on the stand.”

“If you had, the trial wouldn’t have been perfect.” Miles attempted to protest again.

Phoenix raised an eyebrow at him. “Even I know that right there was a bluff. So, again, objection.”

Miles gripped his arm, lips drawn into a frown. “Why are you so eager to believe in me?”

“Because I know you’re a good person. I can tell.”

“Just like how you were able to ‘tell’ that your ex-girlfriend was a raging psychopath who tried to kill you?”

“I’m still convinced that there was a switch-er-oo or something.”

Miles grimaced, as he really didn't feel like getting into crazy conspiracy theories with Phoenix right now. “Again, I was just doing my job.”

“Bullcrap.”

“I was prosecuting. It’s what I was taught.”

Phoenix shifted over a bit closer. “Edgeworth…you’ve been put through hell. You were taken in by a guy I swear is a psychopath, who put all these dumb thoughts in your head. Well, wanna know my opinion? You don’t owe someone like that.”

“How can you possibly even…?!”

“I can’t! I can’t understand exactly what you went through, but Edgeworth, I’m trying to! Because I care about you! Because I want you to stop hurting!”

Miles closed his mouth, eyes wide.

Phoenix lowered his voice again. “I don’t know what it’s like to lose your parents. Mine are still alive and kicking…and in some country or another.”

Miles vaguely remembered that Phoenix was often left in the care of his grandmother because his parents traveled a lot. “Still at it?”

“Yup. And don’t try to change the subject. Point is…if my nana was like von Karma, I maybe would have wound up bitter and not knowing right from wrong anymore. You were doing what you were taught by a creepy dude with a cane fetish or something.”

Miles sputtered. “Wh-what?!”

Phoenix shrugged with a sheepish grin. “Just making sure you were paying attention.”

“I am.”

“Thing is…” Phoenix’s tone was serious again. “I can’t even imagine what you went through these past twelve years. But hey, I’m just happy you remembered me.”

You were my first friend. How could I forget?

Miles stopped him. “And the things I’ve done, particularly over the last year, were atrocious. You wouldn’t be saying what you’re saying if you knew.”

Phoenix crossed his arms. “Try me.”

“I withheld evidence when it suited me. I would get updated autopsy reports before trials so the defense would fall apart. I pushed a defendant to tears on more than one occasion.”

Miles had looked directly at Phoenix when he listed those things, hoping to see the same sort of disgust on the man’s face as on everyone else’s face.

Yet, there was no disgust. Only…sorrow?

“…you’re not running out of the apartment.”

“Why would I?”

“Oh, I don’t know…because I’m a monster, Wright!!”

Phoenix shook his head. “No, you’re not. Your creepy mentor is a monster for saying awful things to you, but you’re not a monster. Have you done some bad things? Yea. And yea, it hurt when you tried to get me convicted…”

“See?”

“You didn’t let me finish. Don’t sound so triumphant, geez. Thing is, Edgeworth, I forgive you.”

Miles stared blankly at him. “You…forgive me? I nearly had you locked away, possibly put on death row, for a crime you didn’t commit! How can you forgive that?!”

Phoenix shrugged. “It’s hard to put into words. I just don’t see you as a monster, and I know there’s a good person in you and it’s shown a couple times.”

“Need I remind you that you’re not the best judge of character?”

“Again, I’m going with either a long-lost twin theory…or a clone theory.”

Miles nearly laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. He felt tears prick at his eyes again, and couldn’t stop them from rolling down his cheeks. “I don’t understand you, Wright.”

“Because I won’t let you wallow in self-inflicted misery?”

Something like that, yes.

Phoenix shrugged, then held out his arms slightly wide.

“What are you doing?”

“Asking permission.”

Miles’ trembling shoulders slumped. I don’t deserve it…

Phoenix didn’t hear a ‘no’, so he slid next to the other and wrapped his arms around him.

The warmth was…Miles didn’t know how to describe it. Even more than before he felt safe; like nothing could hurt him. He could also practically feel Phoenix’s concern and care…

He didn’t even realize he buried his head in Phoenix’s shoulder, or that his body was now trembling with sobs. He didn’t realize that he had gripped Phoenix’s sleeves desperately…only that he wanted this.

Part of his mind still berated him for feeling so good when he didn’t deserve it, but it was drowned out by how he not only had wanted this, but that it was what he needed.

When was the last time he was hugged?

When my father was still alive.

Phoenix merely held him. He say a single word, though that was because he felt like he would start crying if he said anything. To react like this to a hug…

When was the last time the guy had been hugged?

Phoenix somehow managed to blink his own tears away, and was glad that Miles didn’t notice his shuddering breath. Sometimes, you need to let it out. That’s what I learned. You can fall apart if you need to, Edgeworth. I’ll help you pick up the pieces, because I’m not going to abandon you. Not ever.

Chapter Text

As the rest of the week passed, Phoenix had taken to texting Miles periodically since the man gave him his cellphone number after their little “pow wow” on Sunday. While Miles still hadn’t opened up completely, Phoenix felt like this was definitely a step in the right direction.

“Hi, Edgeworth!” Phoenix greeted on Friday when he stopped by Miles’ office.

He had promised not to drop by unannounced anymore (or on a daily basis), which he agreed to so long as Miles made sure to reply to the texts and-or answer his phone.

That said, Phoenix didn’t call during work hours (or school hours, since he studied under Grossberg and Mia eight hours a day, five days a week).

“Afternoon.” Miles responded quietly, then stood up and went to the corner where there was a stack of files and tapped the top of it. “This is what you asked for. Are you sure you want to do this, Wright?”

“Sure as sure.” Phoenix nodded as he picked up the stack and moved it to the couch before he sat down on the other end. “You want answers, right? Well, I’ve got a fresh perspective plus training as a defense attorney!”

“I still think it’s a waste of time to check my old cases.”

“But you want to. You said it yourself on Sunday. That you want to find out how many innocent people you put away.”

Miles looked away as he gripped his arm. I didn’t think you would take me seriously.

After all, he didn’t have the mental fortitude to check for himself. He had been “meaning” to check ever since Phoenix’s trial, but he always came up with some excuse not to do it.

Busy, too stressed, tired, it was time for dinner…so on and so on.

So when Phoenix offered to take a look through the files, Miles reluctantly agreed.

Phoenix opened up the first case file. “Newest first?”

“The oldest ones are at the bottom.” Privately, Miles hoped that Phoenix wouldn’t get to those as the worst ones would probably be there.

“No sweat.”

“It’s a lot of files…”

“Which is why I came by right after studying! Took a cab instead of biking to save some time!”

Miles hesitated. Should he offer to reimburse the man, or…?

“Don’t worry about it.” Phoenix waved off the offer, and started going through the files.

There was a hefty stack of them, but this was the only way Phoenix could access them.

Files were also starting to go digital, but he didn’t have a computer yet so he would have to do it the old fashioned way with paper files.

On his own, due to not being a lawyer yet, he wouldn’t have access to all of these case files.

Let’s see…murder case. Victim bludgeoned to death in a bar by another patron in a fit of rage from the killer. The entire bar witnessed it, and the culprit’s fingerprints were all over the beer mug used as a murder weapon.

Just to be safe, Phoenix still went over the list of evidence, pictures, and witness testimony and court transcripts.

The defense counsel mostly worked on trying to get his sentencing reduced with a plea of “temporary insanity”.

Yea, he could set that one aside. The accused, themselves, seemed to admit what they did if they were attempting an insanity plea.

Miles glanced up when he saw the file move out of the corner of his eye.

Phoenix gave him a thumbs-up with one hand and reached for the next folder with his other. “That one was clear cut. Nothing out of the ordinary yet. Relax, Edgeworth.”

Miles muttered “easier said than done” under his breath, but attempted to get back to work once more. Still, each time another folder joined the first one in the pile, he would quickly glance up.

Phoenix had allocated his space so that there was an empty spot where he would put questionable files.

So far, he had gone through three cases and it was mostly cut and dry. The other two pleaded “not guilty”, but he couldn’t spot any contradictions in the witness testimony or evidence which raised any questions.

Perhaps he should have offered this when he had more experience, but he could just reference his own trial for “things which aren’t what they seem”.

Of course, he also took note of the listed defense lawyers as he went through the cases.

Grossberg’s name had yet to come up, though Phoenix wasn’t surprised in hearing that since the man tended to pick cases where the client was innocent.

Just like Mia did now…and like what he planned on doing when he passed the bar.

The weasel of a defense attorney who tried to defend Dahlia came up a few times, but there were also a few other names he didn’t recognize.

Still, his focus wasn’t so much on who the defending lawyer was; he was paying attention to anything which might seem strange.

I’m nervous, to be honest. But I can’t show that in front of Edgeworth today. Phoenix picked up the next file after setting the previous one in the “guilty” pile. I really, really hope that I don’t come across a single file with questionable content.

He also hadn’t seen anything strange in regards to the submitted evidence which could indicate fabrication.

The entire point is to set Edgeworth’s mind at ease on this topic. I don’t know how to help him in regards to the toxic relationship with von Karma…I won’t really know how to properly help him until he tells me more about what it was like.

From what he had heard, Phoenix would peg von Karma as a perfectionist who tried to push that onto Miles. From what he overheard that day, it sounded like there might be some gaslighting and verbal manipulation (or whatever the terms were; he had discussed it with his therapist, but he was hardly a psychology major).

Next one. Stabbing in an apartment, spouse was the only one there. Neighbors heard loud arguing before the screaming. The wife’s fingerprints are all over the knife, and nobody else was in the apartment.

He carefully read the witness statements to make sure that the neighbors hadn’t done it and pinned it on the wife, but everything from times to testimony matched up.

So, he set that one down in the “guilty” pile as well.

One step at a time. Focus on these cases.

Phoenix did hope that Miles would open up completely at some point, but this was still just as important.

Both young men worked in silence (though Miles honestly didn’t get much work done due to his worrying; he still glanced up every time Phoenix set aside a folder), but the quiet wasn’t oppressive.

Rather, both felt at ease in the room with one another.

Miles had given up on trying to fight it after literally hugging and crying (most of) it out on Sunday. The only thing more embarrassing than breaking down in front of someone would be having a panic attack due to an earthquake (or having to get in an elevator).

There was a reason Miles’ apartment was on the second floor and not any higher, after all.

Plus, after he spent half of Sunday hiding from Phoenix, he finally faced the music and found that nothing changed between them…except that things felt slightly more comfortable instead of more awkward.

Phoenix finished another folder and set it in the “guilty” pile. His mind was focused completely on these files, so he had no idea what Miles was thinking of.

He knew that the man wasn’t getting much work done since he was certain that the guy looked up with each file (and just tried to hide it by looking away before Phoenix could catch him)…

…but he hoped that Miles wasn’t too much on edge.

When Phoenix was about halfway through the pile, Miles even got up to make some tea.

“Any preferences, Wright?”

“None. I’m not much of a tea drinker, so I wouldn’t know.”

Miles muttered something about lacking in class, but it had no bite to it so Phoenix didn’t take it as an insult.

“Thanks,” Phoenix beamed when he was handed the teacup and saucer, and rested it on the arm on the couch when he didn’t take sips from it. The flavor was…interesting.

It was certainly much different from instant coffee.

“Don’t even try to compare this to instant coffee, Wright.”

Oops…spoke my thoughts aloud again.

A sheepish grin later, and Phoenix was back to looking at the files while Miles seemed to be pretending to do work with how little he was getting done.

Hours passed quickly for Phoenix, who completely lost track of time as he sorted through the case files.

Even Miles had slowly started to relax bit by bit since Phoenix had yet to put anything in a different pile, though he had given up on finishing his work and just started reading in hopes of distracting himself.

The case files were almost finished, and Phoenix was relieved to see the end of the pile as he grabbed the next one. Three more to go. Most of these have been pretty straightforward. There were a couple I had to spend a few moments on, but just going on the case files, things were in favor of the prosecution.

He should have been suspicious of that; hearing that there was deep corruption in the system, wouldn’t it have been possible for trials to be rigged?

No. If they were, then I would have been found guilty, too. For sure, von Karma should have lost his badge instead of getting a slap on the wrist.

Phoenix had double checked and discovered that yes; von Karma had been caught presenting fabricated evidence. And ironically, the one who caught him was Gregory Edgeworth.

Phoenix put the current file down in the “guilty” pile and opened the next one. How ironic is it that Edgeworth’s dad is the one who “messed up” von Karma’s “perfection”, but then he decided to take in his kid?  What a weirdo.

The young adult nearly laughed, then paused a moment. Not because of the case in front of him, but at a sudden, horrifying thought. Edgeworth became everything his dad stood against because of von Karma. And von Karma is a manipulative prick.

The man wouldn’t…

…would he?

Would von Karma be so depraved as a human being that he would smother all emotions out of the kid of the man who put a black mark on his record?

And, geez…imagine if von Karma had crossed paths with Edgeworth’s dad alone! No telling what that lunatic would have done! He hardly seems stable…

Phoenix made a mental note to discuss this with Mia. He figured he should probably talk to Miles about it, but all he had was speculation based on what he knew about von Karma…

…and reading through hundreds of case files involving murder.

It seemed like the only cases Miles prosecuted were murder cases.

Some of them were bad enough that the defendant went on death row, but others would just put them in jail for anywhere from 25 to 100 years…or life.

“It’s getting late, Wright.”

Phoenix jumped a bit, then smiled sheepishly and resisted a yawn. “Just got three more cases, then I’ll be set. I can finish them tonight.”

Miles nodded and began tidying up his office for the evening so that everything would be organized for the next day. Particularly this new case file which landed on my desk…at least tomorrow, I’ll be able to focus on it.

Phoenix, however, stared at the current file in his hand. This one is…it seems straight forward like the others. A man accused of murdering his girlfriend for breaking up with him….

There were a lot of disputes which led to murder, Phoenix noted. Jealousy, anger, and a few who went into a fit of rage. About a third of the cases involved spouses, and almost all the cases involved people who knew each other. The only one which didn’t was a mugging which went wrong.

Phoenix didn’t understand how someone who truly cared about another person could do something so vile as murder.

He clued back in as he continued to skim over the file. Door left ajar, a newspaper salesman noticed and had to go to a payphone to call the police because of a power outage to the complex…

Who in the world sold newspapers door to door anymore? It was 2013!

Phoenix nearly had a laugh about that, but…something was strange about this case.

The woman had been overseas and just returned that day from Paris. It was a day earlier than she had planned, so how would the boyfriend have known she was back?

Phoenix turned the pages of the transcripts in hopes that the defense asked that question, but it seemed like they had missed it.

That aside, there were other strange things, too. The murder weapon was a clock, but there was still a time discrepancy between when the witness said he called the police and the time of death.

A discrepancy of two hours. He claimed it was two p-m and he heard the announcement from the clock which announced the time…but the time of death was four.

Phoenix flipped to the defense’s cross-examination. Let’s see…ah. They went after that statement.   Turned out that the victim had brought the clock with her to Paris, so it was still telling time from that.

The matter had then been dropped, but Phoenix now had another question on his mind.

But wait a minute. If she had just gotten back recently to the point where we can see a suitcase on the bed behind her, still containing clothes and other things she had packed, that means one of the first things she unpacked was that clock.

The witness had claimed he did not enter the apartment.

Then how did the witness know the clock was the murder weapon?

The boyfriend denied it all. He claimed that the door was closed and locked when he knocked, and that there was no answer. That was…a quarter to four. He claimed he hadn’t seen her since she left for her trip.

The poor dude even seemed unaware that he had been dumped until the trial, if the statements were anything to go by.

The prosecution had argued that the defendant probably had a spare key or was let in and was lying.

Certainly, it seemed like that could be the case.

More ever, how did the witness know that there was a blackout in the apartment? It was during the daytime.

Something was definitely fishy about this one.

The testimony from the accused is mostly fine. The only thing it does is contradict what the witness is saying.

So, it was a “he said, she said” along with evidence.

The only set of fingerprints found on the clock belonged to the victim. The prosecution argued that the defendant must have been wearing gloves.

Yet, there was no mention of gloves when the witness was asked to describe the accused.

Obviously, unless the woman managed to bludgeon herself to death somehow, the killer had been wearing gloves.

And this one…even if the door had been unlocked, why didn’t the witness move onto the next door when nobody answered? Why did he open the door? It’s not unusual for people to not answer their door, especially if they think it’s a salesman.

So, why had the witness opened the door?

That question wasn’t answered as the defense didn’t seem to catch that the witness claimed the door was unlocked.

Yea, sure… “Hey, your door was unlocked so I let myself in! By the way, do you want to buy a newspaper?”…the heck?

“You’ve been glaring at that file for a while now, Wright.”

There was a hint of nervousness in Miles’ voice, and Phoenix couldn’t blame him.

“Ah…to tell the truth, this one doesn’t sit well with me. Oh, don’t worry!” Phoenix had to quickly add that when he saw Miles pale slightly. “Nothing wrong with the evidence. There were certainly some, uh…shenanigans in previous cases, but it looked like all evidence was eventually produced. Someone like Mia would have been able to argue it with what was given.”

“And you’re giving me the benefit of the doubt that I didn’t hide any evidence?”

“Well…yea.”

“I already told you that I’ve withheld evidence, Wright.”

“What could you have possibly withheld from these cases which would have made the person innocent? Some of them even admitted their guilt.”

Miles shrugged.

“Right. So, yea…it was playing dirty to make the defense scramble like that. But it’s still not…not the worst you could have done. Besides, now that you know about it, you can change.”

Miles sat down heavily. “It’s…not that easy to change twelve years of thinking, Wright.”

“Wow…he went after you from the second he took you in? What a jerk!” Phoenix declared.   Yea…definitely want to run my “wild idea” past Mia and maybe my therapist. Something stinks about that. If von Karma was trying to redeem himself, then no problem…but he really tore Edgeworth down over the past twelve years.

Phoenix didn’t know exactly how since Miles hadn’t divulged much of his childhood with the man, but what he did see looked to be pointing to that evidence.

“Anyway, is there something wrong with that case?” Miles asked in trepidation.

“If there is, then it’s not just your fault. There are a lot of questions the defense counselor should have asked, and they didn’t.”

Miles hesitated on his next question, but got it out: “Such as…?”

“Such as why did the witness open the door? How did he know there was no power to the apartment to go to a nearby payphone to call the police if he didn’t enter it? Also, there’s another thing…” Phoenix tapped the papers with his hand and said:

“The defense counselor seemed to forget that there’s another problem with the timing of it all. Time of death is four, yet the defendant was there at a quarter to four. The witness saw him from across the building.”

Miles watched in morbid fascination as Phoenix continued. He had a sinking feeling in his gut, because he was starting to remember that case. It had been one of his first cases, and he had felt something was off with the witness…

…but of course, he did nothing about it since the witness wasn’t the one on the stand.

“…and the autopsy report. Indicates the time of death was four due to blunt force trauma, and death was nearly instant. What happened in that fifteen minute gap? To that matter, how did the defense not notice that second part on the report?”

Miles shrugged as the sinking feeling grew. “Many times, I keep the defense on their toes so much that they’re spending more time arguing…make them, well, forget their argument or get off track.”

He wasn’t proud of it, and couldn’t even look at Phoenix as he admitted it. “Lots of information means that they might forget a fact…and keeping them constantly on their toes…well…they wouldn’t, you know…really read it over too much.”

“You’re not going to do that anymore, right?”

Miles nodded miserably.

“Then, I forgive you. Again, that von Karma dude was a piece of work. Don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Miles still couldn’t meet Phoenix’s gaze. “But you think that the victim of this case might be innocent.”

Phoenix took a deep breath, then let it out and looked up. “I think there are a lot of questions which might lead that to be a possibility. But that’s a might, Edgeworth. I’m…I’m just a rookie. I don’t even have a badge.”

“But you have other questions about that case, too.”

Phoenix would be lying if he said “no”.

Miles closed his eyes, then opened them. He was scared, but he had to know if he had put an innocent person away…especially since that was one of his older cases which meant that the guy had been in jail for months.

He didn’t know if it was a death row sentence or a lower one, but even death row inmates weren’t executed straight away. Some of them took a couple years, even.

“If…if you can confirm…if you want a second opinion…you may share that file with Miss Fey.”

Phoenix looked up at him in surprise. “Edgeworth…”

Miles looked up, unable to hide the desperation in his eyes. “I have to know, Wright. I have to know if I actually…if I…”

Phoenix set the case file down (in the empty spot he had reserved for possible “not guilty” ones), then stood up to stand across from the man. “Hey. Look at me, Edgeworth.”

Miles glanced at him, but couldn’t seem to meet him head-on.

“It’s not completely your responsibility, you know. None of the evidence was fabricated, and everything is there meaning nothing was withheld. That means it’s also on the defense to see their client gets an innocent verdict.”

“But…”

“No buts. Yea, you pushed hard. But you’re the prosecution. You’re supposed to push hard. It’s up to the defense attorney to push back, stay on their toes, and keep asking questions and grasping at even the weirdest of straws just to hope to unravel something which can prove their client is innocent.”

Miles stared at him now, mostly in surprise. “That…was actually wise.”

Phoenix flushed a bit and rubbed the back of his head. “Well, much of it was what Mia taught me. And, that’s what she did during my trial. When it came to light that I pushed Doug, the entire room thought I killed him. Even…even I started to wonder if I had accidentally killed him.”

Miles looked away in shame at the reminder of how he had pushed for that, too.

“Nope, none of that. I said I forgive you. My point is…if I had gotten the defense attorney that this poor guy got, I probably would have been found guilty. It’ll be my job when I pass the bar to fight tooth and nail.

“So, it’s not all on you, Edgeworth. The defense attorney in this case is just as much to blame if this guy really is innocent. Okay? You got it?” Phoenix put his hands on Miles’ shoulders to get the man to look at him.

Miles swallowed hard, but managed a tiny nod.

Phoenix figured that was the best he was going to get. He’s definitely still going to blame himself. And people call me a masochist. “Regardless, you can talk to me any time. Call, text…I don’t care. Drop by unannounced if you need to hang out…even at Mia’s office.”

Miles managed a small smile. “I highly doubt Miss Fey would appreciate me stopping by.”

“Eh…I don’t think she hates you as much as she used to. Sorry to break it to you, but you’re not the world’s most hated person.” Phoenix grinned and patted Miles on the shoulder before he pulled back. “So, let me quickly get through the last couple files, then I’ll borrow this one and run it by Mia.”

“And if you find something in the last two?”

“We’ll cross that bridge if I come to it.”

Miles sat and wondered how on earth he managed to get someone like Phoenix Wright in his life. You keep talking about saving me…but you already did. Many times. More than you already know, Wright. You’ve paid me back, and with interest, for the class trial incident.

In his musings, Phoenix managed to clear the last couple files and added them to the “guilty” pile.

“Just this one.” Phoenix smiled brightly.

“What’s with the grin?”

“That out of all these cases, at least fifty…(that’s when I lost count)…only one person might be innocent.”

“As far as the evidence shows, you mean. I could have held something back.”

“So double check when you get a moment, and show me any of the cases you think you might have pushed the wrong verdict for. I doubt you’ll find any.”

Miles shook his head and blinked away tears. “You’re…”

“Amazing?”

“…incorrigible, Wright.”

“Hey!”

“I don’t understand how you can believe in me that much. You do realize that even I don’t believe, right?”

Phoenix nodded as he helped get the other files back to Miles’ desk. “Yea, well…like I said, during my own trial, there was one or two times when I didn’t believe in me, either. But Mia did. And it turned out she was right.”

“And if this person really is innocent?”

“Then the most likely culprit is your suspicious witness. There’s…what’s it called?…honorary imprisonment? It can be reversed.”

“Exoneration. Except for the time he spent in jail if he’s innocent.”

“Again, cross that bridge when we come to it. Point is, the witness was never tried for it, so double jeopardy doesn’t apply to him. Limitations is…fifteen years?”

Miles was honestly impressed with how far Phoenix had come with his law knowledge and terminology. “Statute of limitation. And yes…for a murder case, it’s fifteen years.”

Phoenix grinned as he waved the envelope a bit. “Then, we can just reopen the case.”

“We?”

“Best way to make up for a mistake, in this case, is to prosecute the true culprit. Saying that our Mister Herring is innocent.”

“…I’m sorry, what?”

“The defendant’s name. Fred Herring.”

“…”

Phoenix laughed. “Yea, weird name, I know. But I’m named after a firebird which rises from the ashes, and your name is a method of measuring distance, so I hardly think we’re in a position to judge.”

Miles shook his head in exasperation, then realized that his stomach wasn’t in as much knots as before. He still felt bad that he might be responsible for Fred’s jail time if the man was actually innocent…he couldn’t give the man back the seven months he had been in prison, but…

I can make this right as I can.

Phoenix yawned and stretched. “Buuut…if you don’t mind, I’ll run it by Mia tomorrow. I’m wiped. Oh! But again, remember, you can text or call me any time if there’s a problem or something.”

“I know. I…thank you, Wright.” Miles still wasn’t quite sure how to handle the feelings of gratitude or the warmth which came from the other man’s attitude, but he was suddenly incredibly grateful for Mia Fey.

As if it hadn’t been for her, who knew what his life might have become.

…and that what’s-his-name prosecutor who got injured and landed the State v Wright case in his lap. He didn’t wish harm on other people, but that had also been a lucky break.

After all…it put Phoenix back in his life, and though he was more confused and uncertain than he had been since his father died, he felt an odd new glimmer.

Hope.

Maybe…maybe Phoenix was right and he wasn’t such a monster, after all.

“Of course I’m right!”

“…spoke aloud?”

“Happens to the best of us. But…if I wasn’t right, then I wouldn’t be Wright! We’ll get through this, Edgeworth!” Phoenix beamed at his friend. And maybe…I can work up the courage at some point to call you ‘Miles’ like I used to.

Miles pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation at the horrible pun, and used his palm to hide a small smile on his face. Such a far cry from the guy who was bawling on the stand a few weeks ago. Then again…when Wright gets an idea in his head, he’ll run headlong with it.

“Wanna head down together?”

Miles shook his head. “I need to put these files away, but…I appreciate the offer.” I don’t want you to know about my…unease…with elevators just yet.

“No problem. Don’t stay in your own head for too long.”

Miles rolled his eyes. “Shoo, Wright.”

Phoenix put the file carefully in his satchel, then waved. “See ya soon, then! I’ll call you as soon as we can analyze this! Night, Edgeworth!”

…aaaaand, he was gone.

“Goodnight, Wright.”

Chapter Text

“So…what do you think?”

Phoenix sat on a chair across from Mia’s desk as she finished pouring over the case file, trying not to fidget every so often.

“I think you’ve got a screw loose.”

Phoenix slumped in his seat. Crap. If I’m wrong, then I worried Edgeworth for nothing…but on the other hand, it’d mean an innocent guy didn’t get sent to prison when he prosecuted.

Mia sighed. “To be trying to help a man like Edgeworth, that is.”

“He’s really, really not that bad. It’s all due to von Karma.” Phoenix protested.

“Well, I have even stronger words about that man, but…I still find it hard to believe that Edgeworth would even admit that he was wrong.”

Phoenix shrugged. “He’s…complicated.” He recalled how desperate Miles was over a simple thing like a hug… “And I think von Karma really messed with his head. And deprived him of basic human contact.”

“…in any case, you seem correct about this case file,” Mia tapped the folder after she closed it. “All the questions you jotted down, though in the margins…..well, I really can’t fault you for that.”

After all, Mia tended to make little notes in the corners, too. The apprenticeship hadn’t been going on for too long, but Mia wondered if Phoenix was already picking up on some of her habits.

He was an exceptionally quick study, so she supposed that would mean picking up some quirks as well.

Phoenix frowned. “I was actually sort of hoping that you’d say I was imagining things. Edgeworth was really freaked out about it.”

“I find it hard to picture Edgeworth freaking out,” Mia admitted. Even some of the childhood stories Phoenix shared with her now and then she had trouble imagining.

Yes, some of the reticence was there on the social aspect, but it sounded like young Miles Edgeworth didn’t look down on people like the prosecutor she knew through court.

“He did. And speaking of…I think the witness did it.”

“Astute. I’d also suspect him.” Mia handed the folder back to Phoenix. “I hope you don’t plan on asking me to defend that scum.”

“No way!” Phoenix shook his head as he took the folder back. “I should call Edgeworth and tell him that you agree.”

“…still can’t believe he’s accepting my word for it…”

Phoenix shrugged. “You are the one with a law degree. I don’t have one of those yet.”

“And yet, you were spot on with your observations.” Mia pointed out.

Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck with a big smile from the compliment.

“What do you plan on doing now?”

“After calling Edgeworth…I figured I would try to help him with the investigation. Uh, moral support, I guess…I mean, it looks like all the evidence is there, it just needs a good prosecutor to put the witness away so Herring can be released.”

“Even if it’s just interviewing, others might not take kindly to your presence.”

“Edgeworth said that he’s friendly with one of the detectives, so I was hoping they’d let me tag along.”

Mia hummed in thought a moment, then wrote something down and handed the piece of paper to Phoenix. “Ask them about this.”

Phoenix, puzzled, took the paper and read it. Then, he looked up at her in confusion. “A civilian consultant?”

“If the detective allows it, it means you can be on the scene. That, or if Edgeworth claims you as his assistant. On the job training, though nobody has to know you aspire to be a defense attorney and not a prosecutor.”

Phoenix gawked. “And you rag on Edgeworth about being sneaky!?”

Mia chuckled. “Phoenix, every lawyer is sneaky in some way. Whether it’s bluffing to buy time in order to think of something, or keeping your own cards close to you. It’s not on the same level of lying and cheating, but…”

“Edgeworth never lied or cheated,” Phoenix defended.

“Except for Hawthorne’s trial.”

Phoenix cringed. He hadn’t told anyone about the suspected fabricated evidence bit, and didn’t plan to since he didn’t want to see Miles lose his badge due to von Karma risking Miles’ career for perfection.

Mia misinterpreted the reason for his response, and softened. “Sorry.”

“No! It’s…well, I’m working on it. I think it’s the entire ‘she was going to poison me’ thing.”

Mia sighed. “You still insist that they were two different people? That’s not healthy, Phoenix.”

“Gut feeling. I’m somewhere between ‘long lost twin’ and ‘clone’.”

“Clone.” Mia deadpanned. “I know they’ve done something with sheep, but…”

Phoenix chuckled. “Okay, so the ‘clone’ theory is more of just a tinfoil hat theory made to lighten the mood. Edgeworth tries to bring her up when we talk about my judgment of character whenever I try to insist that he’s not a bad person.”

“So he’s aware…” Mia was actually a bit surprised. In fact, the entire thing was surprising to her, because it sounded like Miles Edgeworth wanted to change his methods.

That said, she did worry for Phoenix. “How do you know he’s not using or playing you?”

Phoenix had stood up, then paused and looked directly at her with a smile.

Mia took note of the determination in his eyes.

“Because it’s Edgeworth.”

“Not the best rebuttal, in all honesty, Phoenix.”

Phoenix gave a tiny shrug. “Gut feeling.”

“Phoenix…”

“Sometimes it feels like nobody can ever really be sure they aren’t being used or played, but…”

Once again, Phoenix recalled holding Miles as the other young man sobbed into his shoulder.

“…there are some instances when it’s pretty clear. It might be hard to believe since you only know him as the ‘Demon Prosecutor’, besides some childhood stuff I’ve mentioned, but Edgeworth doesn’t use people like that.”

Mia sometimes wished she could see things the way Phoenix did with his bright optimism. Even after being wronged in one of the worst ways possible, he still gave people the benefit of the doubt and saw the glass as half full.

Phoenix then paused at the doorway and said: “Besides…Edgeworth is totally capable of emotions. Contrary to popular belief, he’s not a robot.”

Mia nodded along to what Phoenix said, half listening since she was lost in her own thoughts.

It wasn’t until he had already left the room to call Miles that what the young man said finally hit her.

“Wait…what? Robot?”

Phoenix glanced around, then looked at the shiny red car which belonged to Miles.

“Are you getting in or not?” Miles asked in slight annoyance as he got into the driver’s seat.

“Yea. Just…that detective friend of yours isn’t joining us?”

He had met Gumshoe earlier, and thought that the guy was both intimidating yet kind of neat…and he said “pal” a lot.

“Considering that I’ve named you as my assistant for this, Detective Gumshoe is getting the pertinent evidence for the case and doing some filing with the Judge to re-open it, as well as find…what was his name…?”

Phoenix fumbled with the case file as he buckled himself in. “Uhh…Mister Frank Sahwit.”

Miles stared at him blankly a moment, then muttered something about “what’s with people’s names in this town?” before he started up the car and put it into drive.

Phoenix let out a nervous chuckle. “Yea…there are some strange ones. Are you alright, Edgeworth?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well…you’re gripping the steering wheel pretty tightly…”

Miles sighed and relaxed his grip as he drove them. “You must think I’m weak after all of this.”

“Pffft. As if! You’re confronting stuff that’s painful! That’s the opposite of ‘weak’, Edgeworth!” Phoenix declared.

Miles mulled that over as he paused at a red light. I’m glad I accepted his help. I’m not sure I’d have the nerve to go back and do all this on my own…and it’s imperative that I get it right this time. The more we spend, the more time Fred Herring spends in prison as an innocent man.

“Are you going to prosecute the case?”

“Of course. I have to make this right.” Miles stated in determination as the light turned green and they were on the move again towards the state prison.

Phoenix smiled softly. “That’s admirable, Edgeworth.”

“You’re the only one who thinks so. I’ll…more than likely get an earful from von Karma for doing this.”

“Why? If an innocent man is in jail, isn’t that a ‘non-perfect’ thing?”

“No. What matters, according to him, is getting a ’guilty’ verdict. That’s the ‘perfection’ he talks about. Leading the court around by the nose, placing trap after trap in front of the defense in order to whip out evidence they didn’t have previously…and apparently, conspiring with the Chief of Police in the matter of forged evidence.”

“Wait, what!?” Phoenix yelped.

Miles spared a glance at him before turning his eyes back to the road. “That doesn’t leave this car. Do you understand, Wright? It was something von Karma hinted at when he was…scolding…me…”

Not the word Phoenix would have used, but he let it slide.

Wait.

“So that explains it.” Phoenix mumbled to himself.

Of course, in a car, “to oneself” meant that anyone else could hear it.

“Explains what?”

“Oh! I, uh…had sort of been doing some digging on von Karma over the past week or so…”

Miles didn’t bother to ask for the reason, because he was pretty sure he was it. “And?”

“Well…if he has the blessing of the Police Chief, then he has other connections. I mean, that’d be the logical conclusion. So it explains why he only got a slap on the wrist when he was caught presenting forged evidence…..woa!!”

Miles had swerved in surprise, and managed to put his four-ways on and pull neatly to the side of the road as if it had been intentional. “What was that?”

Phoenix held up his hands in a gesture of peace in response to Miles’ wide eyes. “I did digging, like I said. A little over twelve years ago, the acting defense attorney on a case proved that evidence von Karma tried to use had been forged. All von Karma got was a warning and a black mark on his record…(dope should have been disbarred on the spot).”

Miles stared incredulously. “I…did not know this.”

“I’m not surprised. I mean, the way von Karma talks to you and carries himself is like he’s trying to pretend he’s superior to everyone.”

“He is.”

“No, he’s not. He’s a scoundrel and probably a bigger piece of scum than some of the murderers sitting in that jail,” Phoenix argued seriously. “I got to looking over some of his old cases from what I could find within my search limits…and limited access. Edgeworth, compared to him, what you used to do would make you a saint.”

Miles looked away uncomfortably. “I…I know his methods are completely harsh. I know that he’s even more devious and cunning than I am, and that he is worse. I just didn’t really…think about any of that until recently.”

Phoenix hesitated, then patted Miles on the arm briefly before he pulled back. He had noticed that while Miles stiffened initially to touch, he then seemed like he yearned for it.

Phoenix couldn’t wait until Monday when he could bring it up to his therapist; he had been dipping into some psychology books in hopes to find out more about abuse and toxic relationships to perhaps do something to help his friend.

There was a term for Miles’ reactions, but Phoenix didn’t remember it off the top of his head.

“Hey. It’s good that you are.” Phoenix reminded him.

Miles took a deep breath in, then put his signal back on to re-enter the road. “Yea.”

“And as for worrying about getting chewed out by von Karma later for doing all this…you’re doing the right thing. If von Karma has a problem with that, then his priorities are royally screwed up.”

Miles let out a small chuckle as he safely merged back into traffic. “How in the world anyone thought that you killed someone, I don’t know.”

Phoenix grinned and jokingly said: “Oh, come on…I’m sure everyone has been on trial for murder before! Not unique to me!”

It was Miles’ odd silence which made Phoenix’s grin drop.

Oops. Did I start joking around about it too soon? Does he still feel guilty for thinking I had done it? Was that a dig at himself just then and I just made light of it?

“You know I forgave you for that. Remember?” Phoenix said quietly.

“It’s not that. Just…well, alright, it was some of that. But it’s more that…I was reminded of this…thing.”

“Thing?”

Miles’ mouth was in a thin line, and Phoenix realized that was the look the other typically got whenever he felt like he was being pushed or didn’t want to admit something.

So, Phoenix stayed quiet and let Miles come out with it.

It took about two minutes, but Miles finally said:

“A…dream. More of a nightmare. But it’s been recurring for so long that I think it may be a memory.”

There was no further elaboration and Phoenix figured, as they pulled into the jail’s visitor parking lot, that was all he was going to get for the time being.

“Any time you want to talk about it, I’ll listen,” Phoenix offered quietly.

“I…know. It’s just…that can of worms is…even harder to open than this one.”

Phoenix was really curious now, but… “One thing at a time, then. My therapist always tells me to take things one step at a time. Let’s resolve this, first.”

Miles managed a small smile as he parked the car and turned off the engine. “Yea. Hey, Wright?”

Phoenix was halfway out when he glanced over. “What’s up?”

Miles looked away in slight embarrassment. “I’m…glad. That…you’re here.”

Phoenix beamed at him. “I might be even more glad because I’m getting to work with you!”

Miles rolled his eyes and exited the car. Just as long as you don’t tell anyone you’re actually training to be a defense attorney.

Still, both men were in a rather good mood as they headed into the prison to request an audience with one Fred Herring.

“…he is not going to be happy to see me.” Miles said quietly as they were cleared to enter the visitor’s room and take a seat in front of one of the plexiglass counters.

“Want me to take over, then?” Phoenix offered.

Miles seriously considered it, but then shook his head (as he tried to still the shaking in his hands). “This is…something I must do.”

“Alright.”

“Remember…if you have any questions about the testimony, ask him. You were the one who spotted the contradictions.” Miles pointed out.

“You sell yourself short, but okay.” Phoenix then tapped Miles’ loafer with his own foot, and gave the man a reassuring grin when he got a raised eyebrow for playing “footsie” in a jail visiting room.

Still, it had the desired effect and though Miles still felt extremely nervous (not that he showed it outwardly), some of his anxiety had been quieted.

I’m not alone.

It didn’t take too long before Fred Herring showed up. He was a mousy looking man with orange-red hair and freckles. He was dressed simply in the prison jumpsuit afforded to all inmates.

The second he saw Miles, his miserable look hardened into anger.

“You. What are you doing here?!” Fred scowled.

Miles crossed his arms. “I’m attempting to find out what really happened at the apartment seven months ago. But if you aren’t interested in trying to clear your name…”

“Clear my name? My life is over even if I get out!” Fred snarled. “I was fired from my job, and having been incarcerated, it’ll be next to impossible to find another one! Did you know my sister had another child a month ago? I missed the birth of her daughter because I’m in here! They need all the help they can get!”

Miles gripped his bicep to keep from flinching, though the regret still momentarily showed on his face.

Fred continued to pace. “I’ve been helping to support them, and I won’t even accept any commissary funds from them, except for making phone calls, because I know money’s tight! Where exactly do you think I was living when I was with my ex?!

“My driver’s license will be flagged, and this will always be on my record! I lost a bunch of friends because they think I’m a murderer now, and my parents disowned me! It’s been seven months! Why now!? You lot should have realized after the first week that you got the wrong guy!”

Fred then slumped into the chair and bowed his head as anger turned to sorrow. “What the fuck do you want from me? You’ve done enough damage.”

Phoenix glanced at Miles, but the man looked younger than his twenty-one years at the moment and his face was nearly chalk white. He really didn’t want to know what sort of morbid thoughts were going through his friend’s head, so he took the reigns.

“I know it won’t get your time back,” Phoenix said softly.

Fred glanced at him a moment after he wiped his eyes, then frowned. “You another prosecutor?”

“Ah…no. I’m studying law, but I’m not.” Phoenix stated. “But what Edgeworth said is right. We were going through his old case files, and there were strange things we noticed…”

“You noticed it, Wright.” Miles mumbled. This could have been him. If Miss Fey hadn’t drawn out his trial, he could have lost his time. As it is, this man will never get it back. Herring was helping his family support their kids. I tore that away from him…

Phoenix shrugged, then looked back to Fred. “Anyway, is it alright if I ask you some questions regarding the incident? You remember it all, right?”

“As if I can forget.”

Phoenix nodded sagely. “I totally get that. I was accused of murder, which I very much did not commit, about a month ago, myself.”

Fred snorted.

“Really! State v Wright. If you don’t believe me, take a look!” Phoenix said as he opened up the folder he had brought in with him.

“You really aren’t bullshitting me…” Fred’s eyes widened when Phoenix set down the extra case file which read “State v Wright”.

“Nope. So, I understand most of what you’re going through.”

“Most. You were obviously found innocent. Must’ve had a weak prosecutor instead of this guy.”

Miles was more than happy to let the two talk. He wanted to run away, but Phoenix occasionally tapped his foot as if to keep him grounded.

Phoenix chuckled. “Actually, Edgeworth was the prosecutor. I just had a really good defense lawyer. She was very inspiring.”

Fred sighed wistfully. “If only…but wait. Why are you with this asshole? Even I’ve heard the rumors here…we still get the papers. The ‘Demon Prosecutor’, he is.”

Phoenix glanced at Miles. “Can I say…?”

Miles sighed heavily. “I’m…attempting to reform. You most likely will not believe that, and you’re right. Nothing can give you your time back. Nothing I can do will ever make up for your verdict…”

Phoenix snorted. “Which is also on the defense counsel’s part.”

Miles shook his head. “No. I take full responsibility. Mister Herring. I know I must be the last person in the world you want to see. I can’t blame you. And the only thing I can promise is that I will find the true culprit guilty.” That, and donate some money to the family…

He already had wired some money to the sister when Phoenix first called him and told him that Mia confirmed there were contradictions in the file and that Herring was most likely innocent.

The woman had tried to refuse at first, but Miles insisted.

Not that he would tell Herring this; offering money, or saying he would financially compensate the man in addition to prosecuting the true culprit, would be a terrible idea.

Money couldn’t make up for everything, and he knew that all too well. I’d trade all the money I have to go back in time and stop my father from dying.

So, he knew well that money would just be an insult to injury.

Phoenix, meanwhile, was asking some questions about the contradictions he noticed in the testimony. “…and we’ve been looking into Mister Sahwit, which cements the belief that you’re truly innocent as no newspaper claims to have ever employed someone by that name.”

“You really believe me…” Fred’s eyes shone with tears and hope as he looked at Phoenix in wonder.

“Well…yea.” Phoenix smiled at him. “And thanks to what you’ve told me, I think it’s a definite that we can get you out.” He glanced at the pensive Miles a moment, then leaned in and whispered: “If you thought Edgeworth was scary during your trial, he’s ten times scarier against an actual murderer.”

Fred shook his head. “I still don’t forgive him. Or my defense attorney, either.”

Miles inclined his head. “I’m not asking you to forgive me, nor do I expect it. Only this one is foolish enough to do so.” He jerked his thumb in Phoenix’s direction.

Phoenix chuckled at Fred’s incredulous stare. “Yea…it’s both a blessing and a curse, I think. But, uh…I want you to have this.”

Fred stared at the business card in Phoenix’s hand.

“I’ll mail it to you so you can have it when you get out,” Phoenix assured him.

Fred glanced uneasily at Miles, then looked at Phoenix. “But that’s for…”

Phoenix nodded.

Miles looked away as if something on the wall was fascinating.

“My mentor suggested it…um, the defense attorney who saved me,” Phoenix clarified for the man. “I was reluctant at first, too. But…seeing someone can really help.”

“What about the cost? I don’t have enough for one…”

“I’ll put in a word for you. You don’t have to worry about it.” Phoenix assured him.

“I’ll pay the fees.” Miles knew that offering money was still a no-no, but this seemed like a time when it was alright to offer.

Fred eyed him warily, torn between shouting that he didn’t want the “dirty money” and knowing that he didn’t want to be feeling like this forever.

Phoenix closed the file in his hands. “Don’t worry. There’s no judgment or anything.”

“That’s not…really the problem…” Fred mumbled.

Miles still didn’t look at them. “He most likely does not wish for the likes of me to pay for his damages. Though, he’s well within his rights if he wishes to sue me for emotional distress when he gets out.”

For a moment, Fred seemed to seriously contemplate that.

“Nope!” Phoenix put a stop to that. “That won’t help anyone! It’s just petty revenge and that can’t possibly lead anywhere good! I mean, there were so many murder cases which had a motive of ‘revenge’!”

“I’m not a criminal.” Fred stated firmly.

“Didn’t say you were.” Phoenix responded. “Just that revenge seems to be nasty business. Besides…if you sue Edgeworth, I’ll defend him.”

Miles looked at him so quickly it was amazing he didn’t get whiplash. “You will most certainly not…! You haven’t even passed the bar yet!”

“When I do! And if it’s before I do, then I’ll ask Mia or Grossberg to! They’re the best defense attorneys around!”

“Absolutely not!” Miles protested. “I don’t…!”

“Objection! You do!” Phoenix interrupted with an intense look at his friend. You do deserve it, Edgeworth. You might not think so, but you’re trying so hard to turn your life around…to become a better person. And you’ve come a long way. Of course you deserve it!

Miles broke the staring contest to look away with a slightly troubled expression.

Phoenix pumped his fist at the victory, then grinned at the confused Fred. “So, let’s just push that option off the table, okay? Edgeworth is trying to repent…”

“You believe in him, too.” Fred’s eyes were as wide as dinner plates. “Him. The Demon Prosecutor…the reason I’m here…the reason you could have been in here with me…how?”

“Dunno, really.” Phoenix answered. “I guess it’s just…I prefer to try and see the good in people. Give them the benefit of the doubt, even if it winds up getting me hurt. But I guess the main reason is…”

Fred leaned forward as if this was going to be the reveal of a huge secret.

Even Miles glanced back over as this was something he wondered about the other man many times.

“…that I just don’t want all that distrust and negativity eating me away inside. It’s so easy to get hurt, and I understand getting angry about something you’re, well, passionate about. But that’s not who I am,” Phoenix said. “It’s not the sort of adult I want to be.”

Fred considered that for a moment. “How old are you, anyway? You look barely legal.”

“Twenty-one.”

Fred barked a laugh. “Yep…barely legal…”

Phoenix pouted.

“…but, you’re younger than me and you’ve got your head on a lot straighter despite having been put on trial. And dealing with detention center food.”

Phoenix wrinkled his nose. “Oh, eww…don’t remind me. Can’t even call it food.”

“Right?” Fred managed a small grin, then took a deep breath and let it out. “I’ll see that therapist if I get out…”

“When,” Phoenix corrected. “Trial for the true culprit is set for tomorrow.”

“It shouldn’t take long,” Miles muttered, “to put away the real piece of trash.”

Phoenix gestured to Miles. “See?”

“I don’t trust him like you do, but…since you trust in this mess…I’m allowed to be hopeful, right?” Fred asked quietly.

Phoenix gave him a thumbs-up. “Definitely!”

The incarcerated man relaxed and once again was able to smile despite the tear which rolled down his cheek. “Thank you, Mister Wright. Thank you.”

And right then and there, Phoenix knew that it had been worth it to switch majors.

Chapter Text

Miles nearly didn’t answer his cellphone. Even without looking, he knew who was calling.

After all, the number of people who knew his mobile number and would call him out of the blue totaled four: Dick Gumshoe, Manfred von Karma, Franziska von Karma, and Phoenix Wright.

Gumshoe was more of a “burst the door open” sort of guy and often forgot to call Miles’ mobile number (opting instead for his office line) during work hours.

Franziska rarely actually called, and in the rare instance she did contact him she did it by text. They were in different timezones after all.

Phoenix wouldn’t call him during work hours unless it was an emergency (except for lunchtime). Yes, it was getting towards the end of work hours, but the guy not only had his own studying to do (and a rather diligent work ethic) but was going to be swinging by anyway.

Thus, the logical conclusion was that it was Manfred von Karma.

And the reason he was calling was because it was the day after the trial of Frank Sahwit…who was found guilty of murder as well as grand larceny.

Fred Herring was released that same day since he also testified in the court during that hearing. And thankfully, he wasn’t too hostile towards Miles…

He didn’t exactly thank Miles (Miles wouldn’t have accepted it anyway), but he didn’t scowl after the trial ended.

Miles sighed and gave into the inevitable. The last thing he wanted was for von Karma to storm the prosecutor’s office in person and bump into Phoenix. He was trying to keep the two away from each other.

Not because they were on opposite sides of the isle in terms of prosecution and defense, but because he was worried for Phoenix’s safety.

One did not cross von Karma so easily.

Okay, time to stop putting it off.

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out and answered his mobile. “Edgeworth speaking.”

“I think you know who this is, and I think you know what this is about.”

Miles could hear barely restrained fury in von Karma’s voice and leaned back in his chair; he might as well get comfortable for his verbal lashing. “I do, sir.”

“You opened up a closed case. The man you had convicted was released. Do you realize what that means, Edgeworth?”

“That actual justice was served.” Miles didn’t know where his backbone had come from, but since he had a momentary boost he figured he would use it. Darn it; Wright is rubbing off on me.

That, or maybe it was the knowledge that he was actually doing the right thing.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Edgeworth. As if losing to that rookie defense attorney a month ago wasn’t bad enough, now you have to drag the von Karma name through the mud even more by admitting you were wrong!”

“I…”

“No excuses. I don’t want to hear them. After all I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? You ignore all my warnings, and instead of keeping to the teachings of the von Karma household for guilty verdicts you go and stain us even further!”

“Justice isn’t a game.” Miles stated, but it wasn’t as strong as he had wanted it to be. It didn’t hurt as much to hear von Karma guilt him, but it wasn’t as if he was unaffected.

“You are a miserable brat.”

Oh. Yea, von Karma was pissed. Miles cringed and wiped his other hand on his pants since his palms were sweaty. Why was he so afraid of this man, anyway?

Right. Childhood.  He always had to be perfect; always had to strive to have no shortcomings so that von Karma wouldn't regret saving him from an orphanage.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to raise two kids as a single parent? You’ve been rebelling rather hard as of late, and it all started with that case you lost. Obviously, you cannot measure up to the von Karma level of perfection.

“You are nothing more than a failure. Perfection has no place for failures, and you thus have no place as my mentee or carrying on the von Karma name in any way, shape, or form after all of this.”

Miles clenched his hand into a fist. He wasn’t as broken up as he thought about hearing that, though perhaps that was because of all the times he and Phoenix discussed it (and Phoenix’s verbalized misgivings).

“You can never measure up to the von Karma name. A sad, sorry little brat I attempted to mold…I suppose the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You’re a pathetic maggot…just like your father was.”

Miles felt his breath catch in his throat, and for a moment, it was like a jolt of electricity had gone through his body before it left his hands shaking and his extremities cold.

“That’s right. I had been up against your father before. I was trying to keep you from making the same mistakes he made, but it seems it was all for naught. You are destined to just be something…ordinary. A pest. A stain on one’s shoe. With nothing to your name except your own obituary in a case file!”

Miles clenched his free hand into a fist as the throbbing pain in his chest started to turn to burning anger.

“Are you suddenly going to start to take on clients? Become a defense attorney? You might as well. You and I are through, Edgeworth. I want nothing more to do with your buffoonery. You cannot measure up to the standard of a higher being such as myself, though I thought you had the potential to.”

That he was being disowned barely registered, especially with the next part.

“Then again, I suppose doves don’t breed eagles. You keep on messing up if you want, but it will not be under the von Karma name. You can use the name of that useless piece of shit who raised you for nine years. Oh, wait…no you can’t, because he’s not a prosecutor. Being a defense attorney better suits a pathetic son of a bitch such as you…”

Miles slammed his free hand, clenched into a fist, onto his desk. His vision seemed to short out a moment, and he couldn’t remember a single time he was actually this angry.

The only thing which came even close was when he was angry at himself for what he put Phoenix through, or for ruining Fred’s life, or even the desperation he felt whenever he awoke from that nightmare-which-he-swore-was-real.

“My father…was a great man!” Miles snarled into the phone as his vision cleared again, though his breathing still came out a little fast and he could practically hear his blood roaring in his ears.

“He did his utmost to raise me after mother died when I was a toddler, and you can call me whatever you want…I did fail the von Karma name, but I don’t really care anymore because that isn’t justice!

“But I don’t care about that! You only knew my father through court, if you even knew him at all…you have no right to speak of him like that! Say what you will about me, but leave my father out of this!”

The chortle from the other end made Miles’ blood boil…only for it to turn to ice at the next thing von Karma said.

“No right to speak of him? I believe you are the one with no right to speak of him. Tell me…what would your father think of you? A man who can’t decide what he wants out of his job as a prosecutor. Someone who sent an innocent man to jail for months for the sake of a guilty verdict.

“Someone who had forsaken his teachings. Who treated others like they weren’t worthy of his time. Who was cold and uncaring towards anyone he knew and didn’t have a single person who would stand up for him.”

Miles found it difficult to swallow for a moment, and had to actually kick-start his brain to remember to breathe after spots had danced in front of his vision.

Because von Karma was right.

That was the most painful of it.

He had other dreams of his father scorning what he had become, but to hear it actually spoken aloud and spelled out…it felt like what he imagined being stabbed would feel like.

“Now you’ve somehow managed to disappoint two people who tried to show you the way. What a pity. I can’t say I didn’t try to steer you away from all of that. Congratulations, Edgeworth. On betraying both of your mentors. Good riddance to you.”

Miles didn’t even hear the click, and it took him a couple moments to realize that he was now listening to a dialtone.

Numbly, he ended the call as well and then just let the phone drop from his hand and onto his desk as he slumped back into his chair.

For a few moments, he just stared blankly at his desk. Then, he buried his face in his arms…and wept bitterly, an odd combination of numb and hurt within his chest.

He didn’t quite know how he felt about being disowned; von Karma was a cold bastard, but he still had raised him for twelve years.

However, knowing he let his real and surrogate fathers down…

More the former than the latter was what caused it to feel like something was constricting his chest.

He barely even gave a thought to the fact that Phoenix was probably going to be coming over soon and would find him like this…

Who cared? He had completely broken down in Phoenix’s arms once, and he doubted he could even maintain his composure if Lana Skye herself walked into his office.

The day hadn’t been such a bad one until then, though he had been dreading that phone call since the trial the other day…

But now he could probably chalk it up as one of the worst days since his father died and he tried to get his old friend a guilty verdict. How can he even stand to look at me!?

Let alone be nice…

Let alone want to still be friends!?

Miles muffled a sob into his arms and could do nothing to stop his spiraling thoughts.

The day was just going from bad to worse.

And as if the universe had it out for him, he had barely recovered from his breakdown and started to pack things up to meet with Phoenix and just end the day already when there was a sudden loud sound and the ground under him was no longer stable.

Oh.

An earthquake.

That was the last coherent thought which ran through his mind.

Phoenix had been halfway to Miles’ office when the earthquake made him stumble into the wall. Thankfully, it didn’t last too long and he merely hunkered down until it was over before he continued on his way to Miles’ office.

“Hey, Edgeworth!” Phoenix greeted with a knock at the door. “I know I’m a couple minutes early, but your work should be over for the day anyway!”

No answer.     

“Uh…Edgeworth? Are you in there?”

Still no answer.

Phoenix swallowed past a surge of fear that something was wrong, particularly when he thought he heard a ruffle of clothing or movement from the other side of the door.

“I’m coming in, Edgeworth!” Phoenix braced himself, his satchel out as a shield in case there was a hostage situation or something on the other side, and opened the door.

Nothing.

Phoenix blinked and looked around, then heard the noise again.

It seemed to be coming from…the other side of the desk?

Phoenix inched closer…and closer…

Then, he steeled himself and looked around to see…

…Miles huddled in a ball under the desk, shaking like a leaf. His eyes were wide open, but it was as if he couldn’t see anything in the room.

“Edgeworth?” Phoenix had never seen his friend like this, not even when they were kids, so he was understandably confused. The only thing he did know was that Miles seemed to be afraid…or something.

“Are you hurt?” Phoenix asked, but still got no answer. “Okay, um…Edgeworth? It’s Phoenix. You in there?”

Just gasping breaths which honestly sounded to Phoenix like Miles might be getting close to hyperventilating; he was certainly pale enough…

Phoenix didn’t know what to do. “Edgeworth? C’mon…Edgeworth! …Miles!”

At the sound of his first name, Miles jerked slightly. His eyes darted momentarily to Phoenix, then he squeezed them shut as he curled up tighter with a muffled whimper.

Phoenix took his satchel off and set it on the desk, then sat down nearby. “Hey. It’s just me. Can you hear me now?” What the hell is going on!? Okay, okay…keep it cool, Phoenix! Panicking won’t help the situation!

A tiny nod from Miles.

“Alright, that’s a good start. Um…I have no idea what’s going on. Wait. Are you afraid of earthquakes?”

A whimper.

Phoenix shuffled over to sit next to Miles, then placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. When he wasn’t rebuked, he slowly moved to a one-armed hug. “So, I’m just gonna talk. I really don’t know what to do, but I wanna help. Just, uh…push me away or something if I start making things worse.”

Miles was only halfway back in the real world as a pleasant buzzing filled the air.

He knew that Phoenix was now talking to him, though for the life of him he didn’t even remember how he got under his desk. It was always like that whenever there was an earthquake: Either he would hyperventilate until he passed out, or he would just sort of black out on his actions and when he came to, he was curled up on the ground.

At the moment, he was still half in that elevator in the dark (despite the evening glow of the sun rather than darkness) while the air was slowly thinning…

I can’t breathe…I can’t…there’s not enough oxygen…

“…woa. Okay, you’re starting to hyperventilate. It’s okay. Just, uh…oh, I know! My therapist does this for me when I start freaking out. Breathe with me, okay? In to the count of four. One…two…three…four. Hold it for three seconds…oop. That’s okay, let’s try again.”

Through the darkness and lightheadedness, the one constant Miles latched onto was Phoenix’s voice. There was also a warmth at his side which seemed to anchor him slightly back to reality instead of the float-y feeling he had been struggling through.

His breath stuttered slightly as he tried to follow the instructions, but on the third or so attempt he managed to get through the first part.

“Great! Now, exhale to the count of five. One…two…three…four…five. Great! You’re doing great, Edg—Miles.” Phoenix corrected himself at the last second since the other seemed to be responding better to his first name. “Let’s do it again, okay? In for one…two…”

Miles was able to follow the instructions a little better this time, and he nearly panicked when the world was still dark until he realized that his eyes were closed. At first, he didn’t feel like he had the strength to open them. But that voice at his side…

Slowly, he opened his eyes. The rough fabric of his shirt brushed by his eyelids, so he managed to gather the strength to lift his head enough to see that he was…

…not in a dark elevator.

Nobody else was gasping for breath.

Nobody was shouting.

Nobody was fighting.

…nobody was dead.

Miles gasped on another breath, but that soothing voice was back.

“C’mon. Let’s do it again. Breathe in one…two…three…four. Hold it for three seconds. Two…three. Now out one…two…three…four…five. Let’s repeat, okay? Just breathe with me one…”

Tears came unintentionally at the corners of his eyes as he shivered, but then the warmth around him just sort of pulled him in tighter.

That warmth…that’s Phoenix Wright. That’s his voice. He’s safe. He’d never hurt me. It’s okay.

His thoughts then became the same “one, two, three, four” mantra Phoenix kept repeating until the whiteness cleared from his vision and he no longer felt like he couldn’t draw in a proper breath.

The room, which had been freezing, was now starting to warm back up even though he shivered and could feel the sweat which caused his shirt and coat to stick to his back.

His face was a bit damp from sweat (and maybe some subconscious tears).

He couldn’t stop himself from leaning against that source of safety and warmth even though he had identified it and embarrassment was slowly starting to take root in place of the hellish fear.

Phoenix felt Miles slump against him, but was at least happy to note that the man’s complexion was at least a little better (still far too pale for his tastes, though), and the other’s eyes were much more focused before they fluttered closed as a blush rose to Miles’ cheeks.

“I…I’m alright now,” Miles mumbled, shame coating his voice. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that…”

Phoenix wasn’t as willing to let Miles go, and thankfully, Miles didn’t try to pull away just yet. “Miles, you literally broke down in front of me a little while back. And hey, you’ve seen me freak out in court and not to mention my crippling fear of heights.”

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out as he rested his head on Phoenix’s shoulder while he gathered his thoughts. “I suppose…I should explain.”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I mean yea…I’m curious as hell, but isn’t that always the case?” Phoenix pointed out wryly.

Miles frowned slightly. “It…it started twelve years ago. What’s now called the ‘DL-6’ case. You know my father passed away…did you know how he died?”

“No. The specifics weren’t given…”

“There was an earthquake in the courthouse. My father, a bailiff, and I were in an elevator. The power was cut, and it was taking hours to fix. Air was getting thinner, and…” Miles didn’t know why he was spilling the entire incident from the elevator.

He had only meant to state the part about the earthquake, but it was spilling out like a bottle had been uncorked.

“The bailiff…started to freak out. He got in a scuffle with my father, and…I…”

Phoenix squeezed Miles’ shoulder, but didn’t interrupt as he was afraid that if he did, it would make the man stop. He somehow just knew that this was one of the things which changed his friend. And, it meant that if Miles was telling him, he was truly making strides in changing his life.

Now that an innocent man went free and the truly guilty culprit was behind bars, Phoenix supposed this was one of the next steps. Though…I would have preferred he had more time to heal from the Fred Herring situation first…

“Remember…I told you that I’d been having a recurring dream? A nightmare?”

Phoenix nodded, then remembered that Miles’ eyes were closed. “Yea.”

“I think…it’s really a memory. Of the last few moments before I lost consciousness in that elevator. My father and the bailiff were fighting…wrestling on the floor. Then I saw the bailiff’s gun. With the last of my strength, I picked it up and threw it at the bailiff. I shouted at him to not hurt my father. The gun discharged, and I heard a horrible, horrible scream…then darkness.”

A tear rolled down Miles’ cheek. “I…I killed my own f-father. And then all of this…I put away an innocent man. I’ve been…skirting along what’s acceptable in court. I’m everything…everything he would have fought against…”

“No.” Phoenix shook his head as Miles shuddered on a quiet sob. “There’s no proof.”

“It’s in the memory…”

“A discharged gun in the dark managed to kill someone?” Phoenix disagreed. “That’d be a lot of coincidences. I don’t think you were the one who killed him.”

“Nobody else could have done it!”

“What about the bailiff?”

“He was charged for it…there was an entire thing with a spirit medium being called, who channeled my father and pointed at him. But he got acquitted…there wasn’t enough evidence. And there was a lot of doubt over whether he actually did it.

“But that doesn’t change that I’ve become everything my father hates. If he lied to protect me…then…he only covered for me just so I can become this…this…!”

“Nuh uh. Don’t finish that sentence.” Phoenix disagreed. “Sure, it sounds bad, but Mia is always telling me to flip things around and try looking at them from another angle. I’m sure there’s an explanation which doesn’t involve a tragic accident.”

“Accident or no, I might have murdered my own father.” Miles let out a wet laugh. “I’m completely irredeemable…”

“Objection.” Phoenix didn’t raise his voice, but it came out strong.

Miles fell silent, lacking the energy to move from the one-armed embrace.

“There’s a lot to unravel, and again, von Karma is a…well, I’m running out of strong derogatory words for him to truly encapsulate what a toad he is.”

Miles snorted. “Toad?”

“I told you I’m running out. But anyway…can attorneys access the DL-6 file?”

“Yes, but……wait, what’s running through that head of yours?”

“To investigate, of course.”

“It’s a twelve year old case! The statute of limitations ends in three years! What are you possibly hoping to find that detectives, lawyers, and even a spirit medium…(load of made up hocus-pocus)…couldn’t find!? If it wasn’t the bailiff, it was obviously me!”

“Yea, nope. I’m not going to let you keep blaming yourself for that…”

“Why?! Just let me…!”

“Because I believe you’re innocent!”

Miles found he couldn’t say another word after that. After all I’ve done…I don’t deserve someone as pure as Phoenix. I don’t deserve his belief in me…

“Yes, you do.”

Miles was too tired to even mentally scold himself for saying all that aloud.

“I never stopped believing in you. Not after you saved me when we were kids. That’s who you really are, and I strongly believe that. It was von Karma who twisted that around into the Demon Prosecutor. Even if you don’t believe in yourself, I’ll do that believing for you,” Phoenix declared.

Miles weakly rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “You are…far too trusting.”

Phoenix gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I’m not going to let you keep suffering, Miles. Even if you’re the one trying to make yourself suffer. Then, I’ll just have to defend you from yourself.”

“…”

“And hey…if we all put our heads together, I’m sure we can uncover the real truth of the DL-6 incident.”

“That I did it?”

“…you really want to believe that, it seems. But I don’t believe that. You know, Mia never gave up on believing I was innocent in the case with Doug Swallow. Even when I thought I was guilty. I must’ve mentioned that before.”

Miles nodded. “Many times, actually.”

“It’s not just because she’s a defense attorney. She truly believed I was innocent. And even when I was starting to think that I accidentally, tragically killed him…turned out that wasn’t the truth.” Phoenix explained.

“Then what of my dream? That memory?”

“You don’t know who screamed.”

“Who else would have screamed!?”

“Maybe the bailiff screamed in fear after hearing the gunshot!” Phoenix declared.

Miles rested his hand over his eyes, but mostly to hide the tears which pricked at the corners. Yet, he didn’t feel sad or even hurt; instead, he felt…relieved.

Yes, he thought he deserved jail time after everything he had done (and that he still thought he was responsible in that elevator), but…having someone else keep admitting that they weren’t giving up on him, that they believed in him, was something he hadn’t experienced for over twelve years.

“We’ll figure it out, Miles. Trust me?”

Miles chuckled around his tears. “For some stupid reason, yes. Even though you haven’t studied in law enforcement for very long nor have you passed the bar. I suppose you were the only one who thought there was something strange with Herring’s file. You certainly haven’t been the only one to look at it.”

“Then…?” Phoenix perked up hopefully.

“You’ll need permission to access the files. That, or I could retrieve them…or even your mentor.” Miles wasn’t sure why he was admitting all of this, or even offering what he was offering. I must be crazy. All of this stress finally snapped my mind.

He expressed that he still doubted Phoenix would find any leads.

Phoenix disagreed. “Never know until I try!”

Miles wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he said nothing. A small part of his chest was warmed; a blossomed hope that maybe, just maybe, he could even get closure for what happened twelve years ago.

No matter what that truth was.

Also, it felt sort of nice being next to Phoenix like this…

Yes, okay…I’m just exhausted now if I'm thinking strange thoughts like that.

Chapter Text

Mia stared at Phoenix.

Phoenix looked back in determination.

Then, Mia put a hand on her hip (since she was holding the watering can for Charley with the other one). “So, let me get this straight: You want to investigate a cold case which even the precinct detectives and lawyers couldn’t solve because it was something Edgeworth was involved in when he was a child.”

Well, when you put it that way…

“Sounds about right.” Phoenix chirped.

Mia raised an eyebrow. “A civilian who has zero training, though he did have a good eye for spotting an error in another older case, wants to re-open a case under my name since he has zero other ways to see the evidence…

“…because a certain prosecutor needs to have his past put to rest so, what? He can be even worse?”

“Miles is trying to get better!” Phoenix protested. “I told you that already!”

Mia rubbed the bridge of her nose. “And now they’re on a first name basis…”

“We’re friends, Mia,” Phoenix said, his silly demeanor gone. “And Miles is really trying hard to become a better person. Heck, von Karma apparently disowned him.”

“Yes…I read about that in the papers.”

Of course the papers would be all over it. I know Miles didn’t say anything to the press, so the old toad must have. What a jerk.

Phoenix made a mental note to call Miles and see how he was holding up now that the press knew about it.

“Mia, a month ago, you told me to trust you at my trial. I’m asking the same thing: Will you trust me?” Phoenix offered solemnly.

Mia could hardly believe this was the same person who cried at the witness stand a month ago. He’s come a long way with his studies, too. He’s learned in a month what a law school could perhaps teach him in a single semester.

It was almost eerie how much of a natural Phoenix was at it, actually.

“Please, Mia. I won’t get you in trouble or anything…”

“I’m not worried about that. The system is so messed up that people only get in trouble if they do something shady after falling out of the good graces of the higher-ups,” Mia said flippantly.

“Wow. That’s…wow.” Phoenix muttered. Worse than I thought. I should tell Miles…I wonder if he already knows it. What a corrupt system!

“But alright. I trust you.” Mia said.

“Yes…!”

“Just know that while you get breaks and can take time from your studies to investigate this, I still need to be working.” Mia added.

“I know!” Phoenix chirped. “Miles said the same thing about his work. That, and I think he’s too close to the case. He said to come to him if I had any questions, but can’t go on site anywhere unless it’s his lunch break.”

Mia wanted to make a snide comment about that, but her situation was the same. “You can ask me if you get stumped, too. Though, I’m not sure how much help any of us can be. You said it was a cold case, so…”

“Sort of? I mean, someone was arrested and tried for the murder, but there wasn’t enough evidence to fully link him and convict him.”

“So not a cold case, then. Cold cases are unsolved cases.”

“It sort of is. From what I heard from Miles, I doubt the accused could have done it. I’ll be able to confirm that (I hope) after I read the case file fully. But Miles was there, before you ask.”

“I see.” Mia mused, then gave him a nod. “Very well. I can get you the case file from the filing room tomorrow. I can’t remove any evidence without a good cause, so I’ll just snap some pictures with my phone for you and text them to you.”

“Thanks a bunch, Mia!” Phoenix sighed in relief. “You have no idea how much this means to me!”

“Yea, yea…” Mia chuckled as she went back to watering Charley. “Just remember that if anyone asks, you’re doing legwork for me because I’m busy.”

“Got it!”

“So, what case am I retrieving?”

“It’s called, uh…one sec.” Phoenix pulled a memo note out of his pocket which Miles had written for him the other day. “Here it is! DL-6.”

THUD!

Phoenix looked up, eyes wide, as the watering can hit the floor. Even with the thin carpet, it still made a noise on impact. He couldn’t see Mia’s face since her back was to him, but she had stood ramrod straight.

That was…weird.

“Uh…Mia?” Phoenix ventured. “Are you alright?”

Mia seemed to shake herself from whatever it was, then slowly knelt down and retrieved the fallen watering can. “I need to…get more water. It leaked out.”

“Mia, wait! What’s going on?” Phoenix jumped from his chair, nervous. “Are you upset about something?” Does she know about the case? But it was twelve years ago…Mia would have been a kid, too!

Mia paused at the doorway as she debated what to tell him. “How much do you know about the case?”

Phoenix swallowed nervously. “That it involved the shooting of Gregory Edgeworth in an elevator which had no power. The accused, the bailiff, and Miles were unconscious when they were discovered and the bailiff was arrested later because police kept hitting dead ends so he was…uh…

“I know this sounds crazy, but he was accused by Miles’ dad. Miles called it some ‘medium hocus-pocus’ or something. But then a defense attorney managed to get the bailiff an acquittal because of a lack of evidence.”

There was more, of course, such as Miles’ memory/dream…but since Phoenix was certain (or more of hopeful) that the guy hadn’t even accidentally killed anyone, he decided not to mention it.

“'Medium hocus-pocus'…” Mia repeated. “A logical person would probably think that. Phoenix, what do you think about spirit mediums and channeling?”

“Um…well, I’ve never seen it for myself, so I can’t know,” Phoenix admitted.

“And if I told you it was real?”

“I guess that’d be cool?” Phoenix shrugged. “I’m sure there’s lots of stuff out there which is mysterious…like why in the world anyone would consume sushi from a gas station, for one.”

Mia chortled, then turned around to look at him. She then tapped the upside-down tear-shaped stone she wore around her neck. “Do you know what this is?”

Phoenix shook his head.

“A…sort of a reminder of my heritage. When you read about the case, you might come across the name of Misty Fey…the medium who summoned the spirit of Gregory Edgeworth. My mother.”

Phoenix’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oh…” What in the world did he say to that?! Now it seemed the two people he was closest to were connected with the DL-6 incident!

All the more reason to work hard on it. If Mia wasn’t affected by it then she wouldn’t have reacted like that to hearing the name of the case.

He certainly didn’t react like that upon hearing the name of his own case, after all.

“Since the accused could not be held criminally liable in court, it disgraced the Kurain Village and its channeling technique. As a result, my mother had to flee. I haven’t a clue where she is.” Mia explained clinically. And, I’ve been looking into some loose ends from that case, myself.

She knew who it was who leaked that information to the press, but rather than be angry with her mentor (though that was why she was already striking out on her own rather than share his office as a rookie), she had found an even greater lead to someone far more sinister.

Unrelated to the DL-6 case, thankfully. Mia certainly didn’t want Phoenix to tangle with the likes of the professional blackmailer, Redd White.

“Then, I’ll definitely solve this!” Phoenix stated. “It’s not that I’m overconfident, it’s just…first Miles, and now you. You two mean the most to me…(along with my nana)…in the entire world, so I have to solve this.”

Mia didn’t know what Phoenix could possibly discover about the case which the police, working detectives, lawyers, and herself hadn’t already checked on…

…but he does have an uncanny knack for this. Even the investigation footwork.

“Very well. Again, if you have any questions or get stuck, I can try to help. Certainly, I can answer any questions you might have about the Kurain channeling technique.”

Phoenix perked up upon hearing that. “Thanks, Mia! I’m going to call Miles and let him know the good news!”

Mia watched him practically rush out of the office (after pausing to give her a hug of gratitude, which she just chuckled at and patted him on the head), then shook her head in bemusement. Then again…he has a link in someone who was actually there in the elevator. He also has a fresh pair of eyes to look at it with, determination, and a way to find out more about channeling…if that’s helpful.

Now that Mia thought about it, perhaps Phoenix had even better tools than anyone else to solve the case. All he lacked was experience (and perhaps some knowledge, but she figured she would help him on that front).

Certainly, if Phoenix could pull it off, it would be an incredible feat and a sure-fire way to jump-start his career as an attorney.

Phoenix’s base of operations was the waiting room outside of Mia’s office. There was already a small desk for him since he often used that when Grossberg wasn’t available (the man tended to be very busy anyway, so he was officially apprenticed to Mia even though she was still a “rookie”. How new she was didn’t seem to matter; she had gained a lot of 'cred’ when she defeated Miles).

The reason was that Phoenix was going to be moving into his own apartment soon and didn’t really feel like he should be bringing anything else home to his nana’s place.

Plus, Mia was the one who checked out the case file and if it was found in another location then she could get in trouble.

Even though Phoenix was her apprentice, he didn’t have an official license…and even though Mia assured him that she would be fine if he ever needed to take the files home, he just couldn’t risk it like that.

Plus, any potential clients who came in to see Mia would be treated to a hard-working student.

Win-win.

Let’s see what we’ve got here…I’ll start with the case summary. Date was December 28^th of 2001…

Oh, yikes. Just past Christmas? Phoenix made a mental note to tread carefully around the season when Miles was involved.

The date also sounded familiar for some reason, so Phoenix opened his desk drawers to get out his notes. Something relating to that toad, I think…

Yes, he had a growing file on von Karma; it was necessary! The guy was awful and making Miles’ life miserable!

Phoenix flipped through the pages until he found his scribbled notes with some clippings and printouts. Aha! That was…the date of the trial where von Karma got his first, and only, black mark on his record for using fabricated evidence! And holy crap, yea…it was Miles’ dad who realized it and pointed it out!

Well that…could it have been a coincidence? That on the same day von Karma got his only stain on his otherwise perfect record, the man who pointed it out died?

It was…a very creepy and disturbing thought.

Phoenix doubted it meant anything, but jotted it down on his notepad just in case.

Couldn’t hurt to write down any ideas which popped into his head!

After all, it was his “odd ideas” which Mia complimented on the Herring case file.

Then after the trial was the DL-6 incident? Okay…onto the rest of the description, then.

The rest of the report only read:

Air in the elevator was considered oxygen-depleted at the time of the incident.

No other clues were found on the scene.

Phoenix rubbed his head. Well…off to a great start. Then again, the pictures Mia got for me aren’t very numerous.

The next page was the victim data, which contained the first bit of interesting information; not the fact that Gregory Edgeworth (age 35) had been trapped in the elevator with his son, but that he had died as a result of a gunshot to the heart.

Also was that the gun had been fired twice.

Phoenix frowned at that. What are the chances of a thrown gun hitting him in the chest? Not to mention…Miles said that he could only see the outlines of them fighting, but knew who was who. And that they were both facing one another with their sides to him.

Which meant that if the gun had discharged and hit one of them, it would have gone into their side.

Logically, of course.

Yet, the photo of the crime scene showed that the bullet wound was precisely where the heart was. Or, extremely close to it.

There’s no way an accidental discharge of the gun did that.

Phoenix trusted Miles’ account, even though the other reminded him multiple times that he was half conscious at the time.

Phoenix even drew himself a little diagram on some scrap paper he had nearby.

Since Gregory was found here in the corner…they must have been scuffling about near there. Which means that in order to be facing their side, Miles was…

Phoenix bit the end of his pen as he observed his diagram, then marked a couple possible locations. …on either the opposite or adjacent wall. Or the center of the room…but then there would be no need for him to throw the gun. He could have just hit someone with it.

The angles still didn’t match. The only way Gregory could have been accidentally shot by Miles is if they were on opposite sides of the elevator…

…Phoenix made a note to ask Miles if he remembered which wall he was near…

…or if somehow the bullet managed to go past the bailiff and hit Gregory in the chest without passing through the accused first.

Yea, that wasn’t a possibility.

Phoenix scratched out that option. Only one way for it to be an accidental shooting, and even then there are questions. Next up is even more perplexing…

The gun had been discharged twice.

There was only one victim and no other injuries.

Bailiffs almost never need to discharge their weapons. I can check and see if there were any shootings besides that one in the courthouse by…who’s the accused again?

According to the case file, one Yanni Yogi, age 37, who…

Phoenix palmed his face. …suffered memory loss due to oxygen deprivation. Is that even possible? I guess so, since I’m sure they were all taken to the hospital. Brain damage, I guess. Let’s see…

The file also said that the man’s fiancé, Polly Jenkins, committed suicide after his arrest.

Yikes.

That part didn’t seem too relevant, so Phoenix just noted the weapon being discharged twice and angles.

Then, there was the photo of the crime scene…

Phoenix didn’t have to inspect it for too long (as he tried not to match the very much alive man in his childhood memories with the corpse in the photos) to see another discrepancy.

What’s this in the door?

A…hole?

If there had been a hole in the door, even a tiny one, wouldn’t they have had a source of oxygen?

Yet, the reports clearly stated that there was next to no oxygen left in the elevator when the group was found…

Any longer and there would have been three corpses in there.

That…was not a pleasant thought, and Phoenix decided to never revisit that line of thinking.

Rather, he turned his attention back to the hole in the wall. If that hole wasn’t there from the start, then that means it got there sometime between when they were trapped and when the rescue crew showed up.

And it didn’t make sense for it to have gotten there when they were trapped…

Again, they wouldn’t have run out of oxygen with that in there; there would have been a way for the carbon dioxide to get out and fresh air to get in.

Sure, it wouldn’t be a quick way, but it would still work…was what Phoenix surmised.

That means this hole was put there towards the end or afterwards. There are no notes in here about rescue crews having to damage the doors in any way to get to them. And, nothing about the crime scene having been tampered with.

Then what was that hole? When did it get there? How did it get there? Why had the gun been discharged twice and only one…?

Oh. I’m an idiot. That’s got to be a bullet hole!

Phoenix wouldn’t know with 100% certainty without seeing the crime scene, and he doubted the hole was still there after twelve freaking years, but he made a note to ask Mia (who had more experience than he did) about it.

If possible, he didn’t want to have to ask Miles much…let alone show him this picture.

After all, his dead father was in the picture.

Phoenix sat back. Okay…how did the police not realize this? If that’s the bullet hole, then the gun being discharged twice makes sense. One shot went through the door, and the other hit the victim…

But in what order?

Phoenix bit his pen again. Miles said that before he passed out, he threw the gun, heard it go off, and then an awful scream. But two shots were fired. That means…

It meant that either the discharged shot somehow impossibly hit Gregory Edgeworth, or that the discharged shot went through the door.

Miles said a “horrible scream”…but never identified it as his father’s voice. I guess it’d be difficult, especially from oxygen depletion, to tell, but…I’m still making a note of that.

Plus, he was trying to prove that Miles didn’t accidentally murder his father.

Speaking of oxygen depletion, this doesn’t quite make sense, either. All of them were in the elevator for the same amount of time, but the accused suffered memory loss when Miles didn’t?

He might have to ask a doctor about how that could be possible, because he had no idea.

Yet another note he jotted down, then he returned to the puzzle of the bullets.

Bullets. Not just bullet hole, but bullets. Only one bullet was retrieved from the scene, and that was the one found in the victim.

Oof; it never got easier to think of his best friend’s father as the murder victim.

So, he had solved what the hole in the wall was and that the order of the weapon discharge was probably it hitting the door first…but then who shot Gregory Edgeworth?

Phoenix couldn’t write off the bailiff even though he had been acquitted, and though he had heard about double jeopardy during the Herring case, his goal again was to just prove that Miles hadn’t shot his father.

Seems highly unlikely, and getting even more so. But…bullets. Where did the bullet which went through the door go? There’s no notes here about it being found in the wall of the courthouse.

Or anywhere.

And nobody thought that was strange? Gun discharged twice, two locations with bullet holes, and only one bullet?

Then again, maybe that was the “dead end” the police hit on it.

Phoenix couldn’t seem to make heads or tails of how that was possible or where the other bullet went, either.

He made a note to work more on that, but he supposed that with his musings, he had reached a dead end.

I have a lot of questions. I need to ask Miles about where he was in the elevator…if he remembers…ask Mia to confirm if this is really a bullet hole, and see if I can track down the bailiff.

Phoenix looked at the clock, then decided to turn to the (borrowed) laptop on his desk to see if he could track down the bailiff since the people he needed to ask questions of were still working.

Then, he chuckled to himself. “Wouldn’t it be crazy if there was a second shooter? Ghost culprit! I wonder if the courthouse is haunted…”

It certainly seemed like a place of crime considering all that had happened between this and the poisonings there…

If Miles was here, he would call them my “tinfoil hat” theories. Like the clone or long-lost sister stuff.

Okay, enough joking around; it was time to do some searching!

Chapter Text

Miles glanced up from his cup of tea. “Where in the elevator was I?”

Phoenix nodded as he presented a piece of paper with a drawing of a square on it (plus some lines to indicate the elevator doors on the southern side). “Yup.”

“Does it really matter?”

“Yup.” Phoenix repeated. “I checked out the elevator in question earlier today, but they had repaired it…”

“Not surprisingly.”

“…but I was still able to match where the bullet hole would have been. So now, I just need confirmation of where everyone was.”

Miles frowned as he stared at the square on the paper. “I think I was around here…the northern side. But keep in mind that this was twelve years ago, there wasn’t much oxygen left, and it was fairly dark in there.”

“But you could still tell which figure was your dad, right? And that their sides were to you?”

“Yes to the first question…unsure of the second. I barely trust my own memories of that incident, Phoenix.”

Still, Phoenix marked an “M” in a circle around the place Miles had pointed to, on the northern side and a bit closer to the eastern side of the elevator than the western side.

There was already a circle around a question mark in the southeast corner of the elevator, and a “Y” in a circle near the southern end…again, close to the eastern side.

“I don’t see how this helps.” Miles leaned back in his chair in the prosecution office.

Phoenix had brought the paper back to the couch with him and sat down. “It proves that you couldn’t have shot your father.”

“And if my memory is dodgy and he was facing my way? They were wrestling on their knees, so they were around the same height.”

“There’s an extra bullet hole in the door and no bullet. The gun was discharged twice. It’s super strange,” Phoenix pointed out.

“And?”

“And, you’re positive you only heard one gunshot?”

Miles didn’t even have to think about it. “Absolutely. What exactly does all this prove?”

“If their sides were to you, then my theory is that the shot you heard was the gunshot which put the bullet hole in the door. The one from your throw.”

“And if my memory is incorrect, then it still puts me in line to have…” Miles trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Phoenix shook his head. “Even if your dad was facing you, that means that Yogi…uh, the bailiff…had to have his back to you. But he wasn’t shot. There’s no way a bullet can decide to zig around a body and hit another.”

“Pardon?”

Phoenix held up his diagram, which now had a couple of lines drawn from the bubble of “M” on the map. One went to the corner, and the other to a spot on the southern side of the elevator. There was also now a circle with a “Y” in it to the northwest of the “V” and the question mark had been erased.

“Look,” Phoenix pointed out the diagonal line. “If this had been the bullet’s course, then it would have gone through Yogi in order to hit your dad.” He indicated the line which was drawn through both circles…and had a frowny face above it.

Miles decided not to comment on the emoji. “It’s still possible if Yogi was leaning to his left side. The bullet would have gone past his right shoulder.”

Phoenix frowned at his friend. “You’re not making this easy for me.”

“I’m a prosecutor, Phoenix. And I’m sure any prosecutor worth their badge would propose the same scenario.”

“Except that you remember them being sideways.”

“Unreliable hearsay,” Miles pointed out.

Phoenix made a frustrated noise. “It’s like you want to have been the one to shoot your dad!”

Miles looked away. “…it’s the only explanation which makes sense. I obviously did it because I blocked it out to the point where it became a recurring nightmare. And besides…if the shot from the discharge of the gun went through the door, that doesn’t explain the scream I heard…nor does it answer the question of who shot my father.  So obviously, it had to have been me.”

“I’m working on that.” Phoenix pointed to the other line. “The bullet went out the door…or, rather, through the door. But there wasn’t a bullet retrieved from the scene of the crime.”

He had been up nearly all night thinking about it, and it hadn’t been until he was falling asleep that his mind supplied the possibility that his second shooter theory was more than just a tinfoil hat theory.

“According to the files, the elevator didn’t have to be moved when the rescue team arrived. Meaning, it was already at one of the floors and got stuck when the power went out,” Phoenix explained.

Miles had a deep frown on his face and mumbled “so close yet so far”.

“No morbid thoughts!” Phoenix protested, then tapped the paper again with the pencil in his other hand. “So then…there was another thing which bothered me about this scenario. Who called the rescue team? Nobody knew you all were in there for quite some time, but according to the hospital reports in the file, you were all admitted to the hospital not long after the shooting.”

“And you know this…how?”

“The state of the body when it was found,” Phoenix answered quietly. “Sorry there isn’t a delicate way to put that…”

Miles shook his head. “You don’t have to dance around anything here, Phoenix.”

“I’m not. But I’ll try to spare your feelings where I can.”

“…”

Phoenix cleared his throat. “So anyway, someone called a rescue team when…I guess they heard a gunshot? Or the sound of the bullet going through the door or something alerted them to that there were people in there. Maybe the scream you heard was someone on the other side who was startled by it!”

Miles crossed his arms and tapped his bicep nervously. “Alright…so let’s say this crackpot theory of yours is true. That doesn’t explain how the gun came to be fired twice.”

“Obviously, there was a fourth person.”

Miles stared at him blankly.

Phoenix stared back.

Then, Miles pinched the bridge of his nose. “This is worse than your ‘long lost twin’ theory in regards to Hawthorne.”

“And I stand by that theory.” Phoenix stated. “But I mean…Mia suggested I think outside the box when I was complaining to her. So I had the idea…to literally think outside the box! Outside the elevator! And what if the person who was walking by picked up the bullet or removed it somehow?”

“How and why would someone remove a bullet from the scene of a potential crime?!”

Phoenix shrugged. “People do dumb stuff when they’re confused?”

“Are you asking or telling?”

“Little of both?” Phoenix grinned sheepishly.

Miles sighed. “Your theory is…kind…but it wouldn’t hold up in court. You have yet to answer any of my counterpoints with actual evidence.”

The other pouted.

“Don’t give me a kicked puppy look,” Miles muttered, then looked up tiredly. “I…would really like if I wasn’t the one who…you know…killed him. But Phoenix, all signs point towards it. The medium mumbo-jumbo half failed because it was unreliable to ask a ghost for testimony.”

Phoenix looked down for a moment. I guess asking a ghost for testimony is a bit strange for a court of law…

But what about asking a ghost for a statement?

If he could at least confirm some things about the way his theory was going, then maybe it would start to open up doors to the truth…

No. It was unreliable in court. If I tried again, it’d still be unreliable. But…I believe Mia when she said that it’s real. Can a person be summoned more than once?

If he didn’t try to use it as testimony but merely to confirm where everyone was in the elevator and what Gregory really saw and heard…

If he could at least confirm his fourth person theory that way…

“Phoenix, why are you grinning like a madman?”

Phoenix snapped out of his reverie and stood up. “I have an idea which can confirm my theory!” He started stuffing his papers back in his satchel.

Miles watched him in bewilderment. “Did you find Yogi?”

“Him? No…it’s like he vanished off the face of the Earth. Honestly, I thought finding him would be the easiest part of this. Same with the defense attorney who got him acquitted…it’s like he doesn’t exist,” Phoenix admitted as he grabbed his coat.

Mia had mentioned Grossberg knowing the attorney, but when Phoenix asked the man about it he had quickly fled...

“Hey, Grossberg! Quick question for you!”

The man paused, having just re-entered his office from lunch. “Yes? Do you need help with a law?”

“Huh? Oh…nope! I was wondering…if you knew anything about a defense attorney named Robert Hammond.”

Grossberg froze, then coughed into his hand and looked at the tacky painting on his wall as if lost in thought. “Why do you want to know?”

“Oh. I’m looking into this DL-6 case file……where are you going?”

“Lunch!”

“You just came back from lunch!”

“It’s a second lunch!”

...Yea, that had been fun. He had attempted to corner Grossberg, but the man finally just said that he didn’t know where Hammond was and didn’t know any details.

Phoenix would bet his Signal Samurai keychain that the man was lying.

“So yea…leads from that front will be hard. But I’m not giving up.” Phoenix opened the door to the office and smiled. “Don’t worry, Miles. I still believe you’re innocent, and I intend to prove it…with evidence!”

Miles wished he could share in Phoenix’s optimism, though he did quietly thank the other man again.

“No sweat! I’ll call if I get anything! Or check in tomorrow!” Phoenix stated. “Take things easy, okay? And no beating yourself up!”

“I’m not a child, need I remind you.”

“No, but this is hard for you…don’t deny it, yes it is…and I just want to make sure you’re, you know…doing okay mentally. Well, as ‘okay’ as whatever is ‘okay’ for you.”

Miles chortled slightly, then said more genuinely: “Thank you, Phoenix.”

Phoenix beamed at him, then waved and closed the door with a “take it easy” and a “good night” (though it was evening).

He was sure he garnered some weird stares from the people in the building, but most of them were getting used to his presence. Even the lady who worked the front desk just waved him in at this point unless something came up and Miles wasn’t in his office.

It was still weird to have eyes on him, but Phoenix was at least starting to get used to it.

Next stop…Mia’s office!

Mia nodded slowly. “Yes, a spirit can be summoned more than once…why do you ask?”

Phoenix smiled brightly. “And…you can do summoning? We don’t have to go to Kurain to do it?”

“We should, since there are specific chambers for that sort of thing…” Mia wouldn’t mind seeing her sister again, but it was a two hour trip and she didn’t want to have to deal with her snooty aunt.

“That’s fine, too.” Phoenix said.

“For you, perhaps…I know I said I’d answer questions you had about the Kurain channeling technique, but why are you asking if I can summon a spirit?”

“I, er…I know your mom was wrapped up in the DL-6 case, but I’m not asking for testimony. I already know it won’t hold up in court. I’m just trying to, well…confirm some stuff which will then confirm a theory I have.”

Mia raised an eyebrow from behind her desk. “Oh? A theory?”

Phoenix nodded. “Miles calls it crazy and pointed out a bunch of flaws…it’s like he wants to stew in guilt, some of it he might not even need to feel. But I’m certain he didn’t accidentally kill his dad. I can prove that if I know some specifics about what went on in that elevator.”

“He told everyone that the bailiff did it,” Mia reminded Phoenix. “That the bailiff was the one who shot him. Why would he tell you anything different?”

“Because that’s not what I’m going to ask.” Phoenix tapped his notepad. “I plan on asking him which way he was facing and where everyone was in the elevator right before he died. Or lost consciousness. Because if there was a fourth person, he might’ve just passed out from a lack of oxygen before he was shot.”

Mia had to admit that it was brilliant…and definitely out of the box thinking.

“I wouldn’t do anything which would put your career in danger,” Phoenix said more seriously.

“Don’t worry about the medium career thing. My younger sister is training to do that, but I chose to take this path.” Mia said to him.

“I already said I’m not going to use it in court…”

“Then how will you prove where everyone was?”

“Miles’ memories.”

“So you’re relying on hearsay? That’s dangerous.”

Phoenix groaned. “Miles said the same thing!”

Mia had to give Edgeworth props for at least taking this seriously. Maybe he’s not as terrible as I thought. Well…right now, at least. The Demon Prosecutor was still awful.

“But really, all I’m doing here is confirming my theory. Miles doesn’t trust his memories of it, but if I can ask his dad…then I can figure out if there really was a fourth person involved. If there was, then I can start exploring that path,” Phoenix explained.

His starting point would be to find a list of all the people who had been in the courthouse that day who might have had the opportunity to do it. It would be hard to track down anyone in the gallery, but he was hopeful that they would have left by then.

The only ones who stay after a trial ends are the people who work there. Not the gallery.

Mia finally made a decision. “Very well. We can do it at my apartment if you don’t mind…”

“Not at all! You sure it’s okay? I mean, not doing it in Kurain?”

“Yes. I’m familiar with the technique and my spiritual powers should be good enough. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to maintain the trance since I left training years ago to be a lawyer, but…”

But, her sister wasn’t ready to start channeling, and there was no way she was going to appeal to her aunt about it.

She could just tell Phoenix “no”, but she had said that she was willing to help.

Phoenix smiled brightly. “Thanks, Mia! So, uh…do I have to do anything specific, or…?”

Mia chuckled. “Not really. I could even do it right here in this office…a lot of things in the Channeling Room in Kurain are mostly for setting the mood and creating a quiet space for it. Let me just wrap some files up here and we can go to my apartment. I’ll explain basically how it works on the way over.”

Phoenix thanked her in joy, then got to work on any questions he wanted to ask the man while she wrapped up her work for the day. I really hope I’m onto something here. The alternative is that it was a tragic accident, but…

Something in his gut told him that pursuing the mystery fourth person theory was the way to go.

This would (hopefully) confirm that feeling.

It was a good thing Mia had explained about the Kurain channeling technique and how it changed the user’s body, because otherwise Phoenix would have been freaking out instead of fighting teares as he sat on the couch in Mia’s livingroom with the armchair where Mia (well, now Gregory Edgeworth) was sitting.

Oh sure, Phoenix didn’t really know the man much except that he was “Miles’ dad”, but it wasn’t like he never had contact with him. Sleepovers, particularly, were times when he saw him the most.

“Well then…I feel I’ve been in a situation like this before.”

It even sounded like him!

Gregory examined his surroundings a moment, then looked down at the robe he was wearing and seemed to come to the proper conclusion. “Kurain spirit medium, I take it?”

“Y-yes…” Phoenix squeaked, then cleared his throat and had to tell himself to loosen the deathgrip he had on the notepad of questions for the man.

Gregory’s attention then focused on Phoenix. “You look familiar. Do I know you? Are you another detective?”

“S-sort of. I mean…I’m Phoenix Wright. Not a detective…trying to become a defense attorney and, er…” Phoenix wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

It didn’t take Gregory long to process that. “Ah. Miles’ friend. You haven’t changed much in looks.”

Phoenix swallowed past a lump in his throat and was glad that Miles had turned him down (or more of called him “ridiculous”) when he asked if the guy wanted to see his father again.

That, and Mia also nixed it by berating Phoenix for asking him, then complimenting him on being a thoughtful friend.

“Or at all, according to some,” Phoenix managed to say with a watery smile.

Gregory smiled back. “No need for the tears. May I inquire as to why I’ve been summoned in an apartment? It was a temple last time…”

Phoenix wiped his eyes again and nodded. “O-of course! Sort of a long story, but…basically, my defense attorney mentor is the daughter of the woman who summoned you the first time.”

“Small world,” Gregory mused. “Wait, defense attorney? You mentioned that before…”

“I still have to pass the bar, but yea.” I’m helping Miles now, but I think I still want to take this path. I want to help people so they don’t feel alone. “And I wish this was in order to play catch-up. I dunno how much you know from, uh…wherever you are…”

Gregory shrugged. “Not too much. It’s not like I float around following everyone all day. So, what is this call about?”

Phoenix nervously gripped the pencil he was holding. “To be honest…the DL-6 case.”

Gregory sighed. “I already told them everything…hasn’t it been a decade since then?”

“Well, yea, about that…” Phoenix grimaced. “A dead guy’s testimony apparently doesn’t hold up in court, so Yogi got acquitted…”

…and then seemingly dropped off the face of the planet.

“But I’m not trying to find out if he did it…well, okay, I sort of am trying to solve who, erm, killed you…” Boy, that was weird to say. “…but more of just that, well, Miles sort of thinks that he did it and I’m trying to prove him wrong.”

“Miles certainly did not kill me.”

Phoenix nodded. “I have a crazy theory I’m working on, but I need to know a couple of things. First is…where in the elevator were you? I’ve got a diagram here…”

Gregory looked at the labeled square which was put on the coffee table between them and made an impressed noise. “You haven’t passed the bar yet, you said?”

“I’ve been studying it on the side for nearly a year, but I only got serious about a month ago, yea…”

“Well, you’ve nailed it. From what I recall, this is accurate. Yogi and I had a scuffle here…I was at Miles’ side at first, but I had to go over to attempt to stop him from getting violent. I was afraid he would hurt Miles.”

Phoenix jotted that down, though it didn’t answer much of any of his questions. “Do you remember which way you were facing? Were you facing away from the corner during your last moments of consciousness?”

“I had been backed into that corner, so yes. I’m almost certain that I was facing the western wall.” Gregory drew an imaginary line of sight with his finger. “And just as your diagram has it, Yogi was in front of me.”

“And Miles was here……ha! I knew it!” Phoenix crowed. “By the angle, there’s no way a thrown gun from there could have hit you after being discharged!”

“Discharged? Didn’t Yogi pick the gun up and shoot me?”

Phoenix blinked owlishly. “Why are you asking?”

Gregory didn’t respond.

Phoenix got a sinking feeling of what happened twelve years ago when the detectives asked the questions. “You…don’t know who shot you, do you. You fingered Yogi because you still saw Miles throw the gun or heard him shout, and thought that it was possible he had accidentally killed you.”

Again, no response, and Gregory averted his eyes as he blinked rapidly. He made a motion like he was going to try and pull a hat brim down over his eyes, but obviously Mia hadn’t been wearing a hat.

So, Gregory let out a wet chuckle. “I was a defense attorney. I have to believe in my clients’ innocence…and yet, I had suspected my own son after I considered everything. When the detectives asked me questions, I was still muddled.

“I had heard Miles’ shout, heard the noise of the gun hitting the floor, then heard it go off. I lost consciousness not too long after that, so the only thing I could think of when I died was that either Yogi picked it up and shot me or that Miles somehow…I’m ashamed I even thought the latter.”

“Sounds like you thought it was the former,” Phoenix said quietly. “Even though you considered the possibility that Miles accidentally hit you…you believed in him so you came to the only other conclusion you could have made: That Yogi picked up the thrown gun and shot you. That’s why you pointed the finger at him.”

Gregory took a shuddering breath, then let it out. “I…think you’re right, Phoenix. I hope you’re right…it’ll be a weight off of my proverbial shoulders.”

“I mean, look…when Miles first told me about his memory, I wondered what had happened, too.” Phoenix admitted. “I just…couldn’t imagine it being him even just accidentally. I guess I’m still in training if I dismiss a possibility so easily.”

“Perhaps…but it also means that you have the heart of a defense lawyer. You are advocating for my son?”

“Uh…not really. Just sort of helping him to try and clear up what really happened. Help him find closure.”

“I’ll count that as advocating for him.” Gregory chuckled. “The thing is, you believed in his innocence from the start. The possibility that he could be guilty, even on accident, didn’t go through your mind. While that blind faith can be dangerous, it’s also endearing.”

Phoenix smiled softly. “Thanks. That…means a lot to hear.”

“I am curious as to why my son is seeking closure over a decade later.”

Phoenix grimaced. “Well…von Karma messed him up pretty bad, and…”

“Wait, von Karma? Manfred von Karma? What did he do to my son?”

Yikes…angry dad alert! Don’t poke daddy grizzly.

“After you died, he took Miles in. Mentored him, too.” Phoenix admitted.

Gregory was silent.

“Are you…upset that Miles didn’t become a defense attorney?”

“It’s his own path, so no. I’m upset that von Karma got his claws into my son.”

Phoenix wished that he could give a report of good news about that. “He…was pretty cold when I met him again. But Miles has changed now. And he’s trying to become a better person…von Karma disowned him after a couple of incidents recently. I think without the old toad breathing down his neck, maybe…”

Maybe I can finally help him for real.

Gregory chuckled. “Old ‘toad’…I like that one. And thank you…for helping my son. You always were there for him, weren’t you.”

“He saved me first,” Phoenix replied fondly. “And even though he’ll deny it, he still looks up to you. Even though he became a prosecutor…(because of that darn toad)…he still cares about what you think of him.”

“I love him. Nothing he does will ever change that.” Gregory said, albeit a little hoarsely.

Phoenix smiled. “I wish he believed in summoning…I’ll try passing on the message, but no promises that he’ll believe me.”

“And you’ve gotten everything you need? No testimony?”

Phoenix shook his head. “It didn’t hold up in court and isn’t acknowledged…plus, I don’t want to do anything to put Mia’s career in danger. She’s, uh…the person you’re currently occupying.”

“I guessed as much.”

“I mostly just wanted to confirm that it couldn’t possibly have been Miles who shot you…”

Well, I’ve done what I set out to do. I’ve proved Miles innocent. And yet…

Yet, he felt like he wasn’t done yet.

He had come this far, why not go all the way?

Why not actually try to solve the case?

Who had killed Gregory Edgeworth?

If Yogi picked up the gun after it was thrown and shot Mister Edgeworth, wouldn’t he have at least sort of remembered that? Yet, he admitted to me that it was one of the two conclusions he had come to. So…it’s possible Yogi wasn’t the shooter.

Which, again, pointed towards his “fourth person” theory.

“I feel like my time is almost up. Is there anything else you need to know?”

Phoenix jolted out of his thoughts, then flipped through the pages in front of him.

“Did you have any enemies? Anger anyone?”

Gregory laughed. “Phoenix, I was a defense attorney. I’m sure I pissed off the prosecution plenty of times…and perhaps hundreds of witnesses.”

“The case you were working on the day you were killed…do you remember everyone involved?”

“My client was given a guilty verdict. Even though I caught von Karma with fabricated evidence, he was still allowed to continue to pursue the verdict……what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing! Continue!” Phoenix shook himself and wrote it all down. I need to go back through the files. The case that Gregory Edgeworth called out von Karma…come to think of it, that was the day he was killed...

What was it called when there was a series of coincidences?

Oh yea…a pattern.

“So, I doubt it could have been my client seeing as he was walked out in handcuffs. None of the witnesses would have wanted revenge for him, and I didn’t treat any of them poorly when they testified. Besides…they had long since left. Court was out for the day, and we were trapped in an elevator for hours. The only ones in the courthouse were probably staff and other lawyers.”

Phoenix hurriedly jotted all of that down. “One more question, if you have time.”

“Better make it quick.”

“About von Karma…I’d been doing some research into him when I first heard him being a total…well, he was super cruel to Miles. Something unusual which came up was that he had so many vacation days that he was able to take off for a couple months following when he was accused of forged evidence, but it sounds like he was a workaholic…”

Another coincidence? I might just have a main suspect at this point. Especially if…

“Take off? He never took off a single day in his career. I crossed paths with him many times, but he prided himself on his perfect record and would always work. Even if he was ill, he would prosecute. He took time off?”

“So it is strange.” Phoenix made a note of that. It had stood out to him in von Karma’s records that the man who had such a tidy pattern of cases (and wins) had a couple months when he wasn’t active.

Phoenix thought at first that the old toad was forced to take a vacation, but it sounded like that wasn’t the case. Now if I can just figure out where that first bullet disappeared to, maybe it can tell me exactly what happened.

It would also hopefully provide the evidence he’d need, because at the moment, all he had was hearsay from Miles (who was running out of oxygen at the time) and a ghost.

“Thanks, sir. I wish…there was more we could talk about, or more time…there’s so much I’d want to tell you about Miles…”

All the good stuff, at least. How hard he’s been trying, how he’s still a good person and it’s showing again…

“I’m just glad you’re still my son’s friend. Take care of him for me, will you?”

Phoenix felt tears come to his eyes again, and rapidly tried to blink them back (only to manage to make one roll down his cheek).

His voice was taught and thick with emotion when he answered: “Of course. He’s my best friend.”

The last thing Gregory Edgeworth did before leaving was smile. “Thank you, Phoenix Wright.”

And, there went the rest of his attempts at trying to hold back tears.

When Mia came back to, she had to worriedly ask of Phoenix was alright because he was quietly sobbing into his hands.

“B-better than ‘alright’…thank you, Mia!”

Mia wondered what happened, but knew that it wasn’t a bad sort of thing when she saw the smile on Phoenix’s face despite his tears even as she sat next to him to comfort him.

Phoenix, meanwhile, was certainly overwhelmed…but also more determined than ever.

I have to solve the case, now. I need to find that bullet…or any other evidence which can physically prove what happened that day.

After all, Miles wouldn’t believe him until Phoenix could procure it.

And procure it, he would.

Without a doubt.

Chapter Text

Phoenix was starting to get used to people giving him a weird look before walking away, though this time it was at the district courthouse. When he first investigated the elevator, it hadn’t been nearly as bad since nobody seemed to realize that he was constantly in there poking around.

This time, he was smack dab in the hallway trying to figure out trajectory and running his hand along the wall here and there.

I don’t get it. If a bullet went through the door over there…

Thank goodness there was only one elevator.

…then it should have hit the wall here. But the crime scene investigators didn’t find anything, and there isn’t any sign of the wall having been repaired.

Even the elevator door showed signs considering that the entire portion looked newer than the rest…or, more of that it looked cleaner than the other walls.

Not by much, but when Phoenix had squinted at it and really examined it closely, he had noticed that the rest of the walls had slightly more dirt and grime on them.

But the wall?

Nothing.

There were dings in it here or there from briefcases or other items bumping into it, but nothing which would have been a bullet hole.

Phoenix stepped back and then knelt down to try and peek under the rug on the floor.

…and sneezed as he quickly let it flop back into place.

Oh my freaking…!! Do they ever dust under there!?

No bullet, though.

Phoenix sighed and stood up again, then crossed his arms and glared at the wall like it would give him all the answers. I know the bullet is the key to this entire case…

**

“Hey, Mia?”

“Yes?” The woman looked up from her file when Phoenix knocked on the door to her office.

“Got a sec?”

“If it’s quick, then yes. What’s up?”

Phoenix looked at his notepad. “It’s just…I was wondering how they knew that the bullet which hit Gregory Edgeworth came from that gun. What if there had been another gun used?”

“Ballistics.”

“What?”

Mia chuckled. “It’s a…well, long story short, it’s like fingerprints for a bullet, and the gun is the finger.”

“Ohhh. And forensics would test for that?”

“Yup.”

Phoenix scribbled that down. “So I do need to find that second bullet…”

“The DL-6 case again?”

Phoenix pouted. “I…I’m on the right track! I just need to find the evidence!”

“It’s only been a day since the channeling…”

“I’m not giving up. Oh, I know! Maybe the CSI team missed it hitting the opposite wall! I’m going to the courthouse!”

“Phoenix…!! …Well, at least he hasn’t given up hope on solving it…”

**

Phoenix had heard what Mia muttered when he ran out, and now knew what she meant.

He had two accounts of what happened which matched up with each other, but still hadn’t been able to track Yogi down.

Nor had he managed to find the missing bullet…

And Grossberg was still avoiding him like he had the plague.

He had managed to contact the defense attorney for Yogi, but the man hung up on him as soon as he said the reason he was calling.

Then blocked his number.

What is with this case? One key member vanishes off the face of the planet, and two defense attorneys who obviously know something are doing more ducking and weaving than a dodgeball player whenever I try to talk to them!

Not only that, but there was barely any evidence for the case, and a key piece of evidence was nowhere to be found.

There wasn’t even a sign or indication that it had been there in the first place.

Phoenix tapped the wall idly. I don’t suppose it got painted over or something…

He nearly smacked himself. The walls are made of wood.

He was so deep in thought that he didn’t realize someone had approached him until they cleared their throat.

“This isn’t a playground. I highly suggest you leave.”

Phoenix stiffened, because he knew that voice. He hadn’t ever come face to face with the man, but when he turned around, he saw Manfred von Karma there (a folder under one arm and cane held in his other hand as usual) with a “holier than thou” sneer on his face.

Though, the first thing Phoenix thought was: So that’s where Miles got his gaudy fashion sense from. I preferred the bowties to the ruffled napkins.

Then, he realized that the man seemed to be waiting for an apology or for him to get out of the man’s way.

Even though there was plenty of room in the hall…

“I’m not playing,” Phoenix stated bluntly. “I’m…helping my mentor with some investigation. Actually, I’m glad you showed up.”

“Oh?”

“You were in the courthouse the day Miles’ dad was killed, right? Did you see anything?” Phoenix knew that yes, this was his prime suspect…but he still had to ask.

For a moment, Manfred gripped his cane tighter before he loosened his grip.

It didn’t last long, but it was quite a suspicious little movement from Phoenix’s point of view.

“And why,” Manfred’s voice was like ice, “exactly are you asking me that? The case was over twelve years ago, and they already had made an arrest.”

“Just investigating. You’re a prosecutor…don’t you think it’s strange that the key suspect walked?” Phoenix crossed his arms. He knew he was playing in dangerous waters now, but he had already seen a tell.

He knows something. He also never answered my question, now that I think about it.

“Obviously, whomever prosecuted the case was an amateur.” Manfred sneered. “If it were me, he wouldn’t have walked. So no, it’s not strange…seeing as I wasn’t the one to prosecute that case.”

“Why not?” Phoenix challenged. Oh, man…if glares could kill, I’d be six feet under right now and there’d be another “courthouse murder” to add to the list.

“I hardly see the need to explain myself to riffraff such as yourself.”

“But you didn’t prosecute any case for months after that…”

If Phoenix thought that von Karma was staring him down before, the man’s glare was downright scary now.

“I hardly see why that is any of your business. You had best stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Now, move along. Perhaps you’d be better suited to a children’s playground.”

Phoenix gritted his teeth. What a…! “Fine. But before that, I’ve always wanted to bump into you at least once!”

“A fan, are you?”

“Hardly!” Phoenix glared, hands in fists at his sides now. “I’ve always wanted to give you a piece of my mind for how you’ve treated Miles!”

Manfred scoffed. “A waste of my time…some of us have jobs to do, so if you’ll excuse me…”

“No, I won’t.” Phoenix retorted. “Look, I have a lot of opinions on how you prosecute, too…it’s disgusting. But how you treated Miles was even worse. You put him in your own personal trial every day, constantly judging his actions!”

“You look too young to be a parent, so you should think wisely before you next speak. You have already managed to get on my bad side, and that’s not a place any sane person would want to be.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” Phoenix stated firmly. “You might intimidate and scare other people, and you might have terrified Miles into changing his entire moral compass, but all I see is a horrible, abusive psychopath who would disown his own kid if he fails to measure up to complete ‘perfection’.

“Parents don’t have to be perfect. Heck, mine are far from it! But belittling someone constantly, or trying to guilt them into thinking that they owe their life to you when you raised them for your own agenda rather than for their happiness…you’re nothing more than the scum scraped off the very bottom of a bin.”

Once again, Manfred looked like he was going to personally put Phoenix in a coffin.

However, Phoenix was too angry to be daunted by it as he jabbed a finger in the man’s direction. “Well, newsflash! You’re human, just like the rest of us! You make mistakes, just like the rest of us! You’re no better than the rest of us, and after how you treated Miles, there’s no way I would ever cower away from you!”

Phoenix had to forcibly control his voice form getting too loud, as people were already glancing at them now and then while they waited for the elevator.

“I’m going to study to become a defense attorney,” Phoenix said firmly. “And when I do, if you’re not already in jail for being a crime against humanity or disbarred for presenting forged evidence…”

And oh, how von Karma’s face twisted into pure hate at that one…

“…then I plan on challenging you at each and every step, and I won’t show any mercy. You are the worst parent in the world, and you’re just as nasty to people who could possibly be innocent of a crime.

“You condemned Miles to twelve years of suffering just like how you’ve condemned innocent people to death row! You wouldn’t know ‘justice’ if it walked up and bit you in the butt, because everything you do is for your own self-gratification!”

Silence enveloped the hall.

The lawyers standing near the elevator missed their chance to board as they stared, wide-eyed, at the unfolding situation.

Phoenix panted slightly, but felt a little better now that he had finally given the old toad a piece of his mind. There were hundreds of other things he wanted to say to the jerk, but this was a start.

Manfred tapped his cane against the ground almost rhythmically for a few moments, then let it come down one final time louder than the rest.

The sound echoed through the halls, and the onlookers were very quick to mash the elevator button to open the doors again.

One of them nearly tripped going in, while another just decided to take the stairs to get away from the suddenly frigid atmosphere in the hallway.

Phoenix didn’t flinch since he was still coming down from his temper, and though Manfred’s look promised death, he didn’t avert his eyes.

“I care not what your opinion is. I can’t be bothered to keep in mind the opinions of every cockroach which crosses my path.” Manfred finally said, his voice cool and controlled. “However, I warn you to watch your mouth when around people more powerful than you can even imagine.”

Phoenix clenched his jaw to stop himself from saying something completely stupid as von Karma sneered at him before moving past him…

…though not without slamming his cane down on Phoenix’s right foot as he passed.

Phoenix let out a squeak of pain and hopped around for a moment before he spun around to glare at the retreating back of the horrid man.

Manfred paused to give him a smirk over his shoulder. “Oops.”

“That was on purpose, you toad!” Phoenix half snarled, half yelped.

The smirk became wicked. “Prove it. Oh…but you can’t.” With that, he returned to walking along his merry way, cackling.

Phoenix fumed as his foot throbbed with pain. Oh, he’s definitely guilty! But I’m not going to hit him in return. No…I’m going to work hard to find that bullet and prove that he was involved in the DL-6 case! Then I’ll put his narcissistic mug behind bars where it belongs!

For all his words and determination, Mia found him later that day with his forehead to his desk, slumped over and muttering to himself.

“Hit a wall?” Mia asked as she went to get herself some coffee.

Phoenix groaned and didn’t lift his head from the desk (and the scattered papers and files on the desk). “I know that there was a second shooter, and I’m almost positive I know who it is. I know that Miles couldn’t have shot his dad. I’m pretty sure that it really wasn’t Yogi, either.”

“But…?”

“But I can’t prove it! The second bullet is nowhere to be found! I just can’t figure out why someone would remove it from the crime scene! If it had been there, CSI would have found it…and if they missed it, there would have been at least some sign of damage to the wall, even now!”

Mia let him rant as she poured another mug of coffee for him and set it on the coaster on his desk. “Chin up. You’ve solved more in a couple days in regards to that case than the detectives were able to do in at least a week twelve years ago.”

“Yea, well…technology is a bit better, I guess.” Phoenix still didn’t even budge, not even to the smell of the instant office coffee Mia stocked.

“I’m not privy to the information you’ve found, but sometimes, when you’re stuck, the best solution is to look at it from another point of view.”

Phoenix finally looked up, a pitiful, mournful look on his face. “I already tried looking at it from Miles’ point of view…and I got his dad’s…”

Mia shook her head as she leaned against the office counter. “I mean, look at the entire thing from another angle. Don’t ask why someone removed the bullet form the scene…ask why they had to remove a bullet from the scene.”

“…you know the answer, don’t you.”

“I have a suspicion, but this is your case, Phoenix. Again, I don’t have enough information to make the proper deduction. You do. So…why would someone be forced to remove a bullet from a crime scene?”

Phoenix rubbed his forehead. “Well…I guess…if they didn’t realize they had it on them? No, that can’t be right. Who wouldn’t notice a bullet after it’d been fired from……”

Oh, wow.

No way.

Phoenix sat up straight, eyes wide. “Are you saying…the shooter had the bullet inside of them!? But there were no other reports of injuries!” He ruffled through the papers in front of him, but couldn’t find anyone else who had been injured.

“If it was in a non-fatal location, the shooter could have walked right out. Though, they probably would have to get it removed…”

Phoenix perked up for a moment, then slumped again. “Certainly after that case, wouldn’t a hospital ask questions if someone came to them with a bullet wound?”

“No doubt. Especially considering how rare guns are in this country,” Mia nodded.

Japanifornia was like a mix of Japan and California, but still had Japan’s gun control laws.

“But nothing was reported…” Phoenix mumbled as he tapped his desk in thought.

Then, he noticed the paper he was tapping.

It was the one noting the leave of absence von Karma had taken.

A couple months after never taking a break is a long time. Long enough to either have a bullet removed, or……no. He’s too proud. From my encounter with him, he only trusts in himself.

Geez, he felt bad for Miles; did the guy ever get to see a doctor in the past twelve years?

A doctor……von Karma wouldn’t trust going under anesthesia. And when I mentioned the case and looking for evidence, he tightened his grip on his cane. But the height on the wall of the photo…

Mia smiled to herself as Phoenix pushed papers aside to get to the photo evidence he was looking for.

…that’s shoulder height, not leg height. Then again, he didn’t walk with any sort of a limp. Bastard even purposely hit my foot…

But it hadn’t been as hard as he initially thought it would be. Honestly, the pain had cleared up rather soon and though there was a scuff mark on his loafer, his foot hadn’t taken more damage than a red mark which faded within five or so minutes.

It’s not because he didn’t want to cause damage to me. He would have gladly broken my foot and called it an accident since there were no witnesses at the time…

No witnesses.

A near-empty courthouse.

A rescue team which hadn’t yet arrived.

Three unconscious people in an elevator when the power came back on and the doors opened.

A hole in the door at the proper shoulder height for a grown man.

The discharged shot.

The thrown gun...

Phoenix stared, wide eyed, at the papers in front of him.

“Hit upon something?” Mia asked with a knowing smile.

“Holy freaking hell…” Phoenix said, slightly dazed. “Mia. I think…I think Manfred von Karma killed Gregory Edgeworth.”

Mia nearly spit out her coffee. “What?!”

Phoenix looked at her with wide eyes. “I…I’m almost certain of it! And if I’m right, the bullet could still be in his shoulder! That’s how the bullet was removed from the scene! He’d never go under the knife unless he was unconscious and couldn’t argue it!”

Mia tapped the desk to get his attention. “Phoenix. You’re accusing a famous prosecutor of murder. I highly suggest you take a few moments to gather your thoughts before calling the police…or Edgeworth. It’s getting late. Go home and sleep on it. Especially if the bullet is in his shoulder, it’s not going anywhere.”

Phoenix relaxed slightly. “Yea…yea, you’re right. I should make absolutely certain, and I still haven’t even found Yogi to talk to him about his side. If he has some information which contradicts what I’ve found…”

He doubted anything could, but it was crazy to think that von Karma had walked out of the courthouse that day with a freaking bullet wound.

The entire thing was crazy, and perhaps he should go home…

“Oh…before I forget.” Mia went to a bin on the counter, then retrieved an envelope and handed it to him. “This came for you. Looks like a telegram of sorts.”

Phoenix took it, puzzled, and turned it over a few times. “Doesn’t say who it’s from…”

He shrugged and opened it, and his eyes widened. “It’s…it’s a response from the police department! They tracked down Yogi! No way…he’s the shack owner at Gourd Lake? That old man?”

“Sounds like things are coming together.” Mia said with a smile.

Phoenix quickly dumped his things into his satchel. “I’m going over there before I go home! Nobody waiting for me anyway since I moved out of nana’s…”

“Just be careful, alright? It’s getting dark.” Mia warned. She also figured Phoenix had to be the luckiest guy on the planet with the timing of that telegram; he was close to wrapping up a freaking twelve year old case, and the final loose end had just literally landed in his lap.

Phoenix thanked her for worrying about him, then rushed out the door barely remembering to grab his coat on the way.

Mia sighed in fond exasperation, particularly when she saw that he had forgotten to grab half of his notes, and even the telegram itself, in his hurry.

Phoenix will be Phoenix…I’ll straighten his desk up a bit when I finish cleaning up my own desk.

Phoenix patted down his pockets as he waited for the door to be answered when he knocked at the boathouse. Oops. Forgot to bring the telegram with me. And my notepad. I think this is the right place…at least, I’m pretty sure it said “the boathouse at Gourd Lake”…

Phoenix checked his watch, then knocked for the fifth time in half an hour.

It was getting cooler out, and it was getting darker. There was nobody around the boat rental area anymore due to the failing daylight, though there had still been some people on the path when he had entered.

As it was, he saw fewer and fewer people in the distance, and the boat rentals were closed for the day.

Did he go home? I was under the impression that the old man lived here. Maybe he went to sleep? But even nana didn’t turn in at six in the evening…

“Hello?” Phoenix called. “Anyone home? Mister, uh…”

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea to shout the dude’s real name across the area.

Sure, nobody was around, but still…

“…boat rental guy? Old man?” Phoenix called out again.

Is he alive in there?

Cold dread gripped Phoenix’s stomach. What if von Karma killed him to silence him!?

“Hey! If you’re home and alive, can you give me a sign?!” Phoenix knocked harder this time. Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay…!

Finally, there was a call…though it didn’t come from inside.

“Eh? I’m around the back! Rentals are closed, sonney!”

Phoenix let out a breath of relief since it at least sounded like the boat rental guy…Yanni Yogi, he mentally corrected.

He hurried to walk around the little house/shack, and saw the grizzled old man out back stacking some firewood. With his stooped posture and a smile which said “I’m not all here”, and occasional vacant look in his eyes, Phoenix guessed that the medical reports were right.

Come to think of it, we never knew his name. He never named himself whenever we’d take a boat out…we all just called him “Old Man” and he answered to it.

“Sorry, sonney! Rentals are closed. Unless…Keith? That you?”

Phoenix shook his head. “Uh…” I don’t recall reading that Yogi had any family. Just the fiancé who killed herself.

The man smiled toothily. “Have you come back to take over the noodle business, finally? Oh, you make your old man so proud…!”

Okay, what? Just…what?

“Uh…Old Man, I mean…Mister Yogi,” Phoenix decided to put a stop to this make believe game of house.

Yogi blinked a couple of times, then the vacant look was back. “Eh? Who’s that?”

“You.”

“Never heard of a ‘Yogi’.”

“What’s your name, then?” Phoenix asked in exasperation.

The old man tilted his head one way then the other, then laughed. “Dunno! That’s what Polly is for!”

“Uh…Polly?” Isn’t that the name of his deceased fiancé!? Is he living in a delusion!?

“Yup! Polly reminds me of all sorts of important stuff because I’m always forgetting. Some’n with my brain a while back…forget what it’s called.”

Phoenix realized sadly that there was no way he was getting anything out of this old man; it appeared as if Yanni Yogi really did have memory loss. “Amnesia?”

“Is it? Hrm…sounds familiar, I suppose……what were we talking about, again? Boat rental is closed for the day, sonney!”

Hoo-boy. “N-nevermind. Sorry to bother you.” Phoenix figured he should just go home, so he turned and started to walk away.

It was doubtful anything Yogi would say could prove his theory wrong, and what he really needed to be doing was trying to find a metal detector or something.

I wonder how much those cost. Wonder if I can find a small one for cheap somewhere…or maybe Larry has one I can borrow. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did…

He figured he should be prepared since tomorrow he would be blowing the whistle on von Karma. Yea, Mia told him to be absolutely sure, but he was absolutely sure.

The only question was if the bullet was really in von Karma’s shoulder.

Thus, the metal detector.

Plus, I need to call Miles and let him know that I’ll be taking my findings to the police tomorrow…

There was a crunch behind him, and Phoenix turned to make sure that the old man hadn’t keeled over or anything…

…just to see said old man not stooped over, with a slightly crazed look in his eyes, as he swung one of the pieces of firewood to the point where it was just a blur by the time Phoenix saw all of this.

His head lit up with pain…then there was only darkness.

Chapter Text

To Miles Edgeworth-

It has come to my attention that someone, perhaps working under you, has been investigating into the DL-6 incident. While I do not feel comfortable telling a complete stranger what happened, I would like to share with you my findings.

If you wish to know the truth of what happened that day, meet me at the boat rental shack at Gourd Lake at 11pm.

-Hammond

As consciousness slowly started to come back to Phoenix, he was aware of a couple things.

The first and foremost was that his head was throbbing like all hell…particularly the right side of his forehead. He couldn’t even open his right eye all the way because there was too much resistance for some reason; like something sticky was trying to keep it shut.

After that, he had to slam his eyes shut again because a wave of nausea hit him so intensely that he nearly vomited.

…which would have been difficult considering that he realized there was a piece of cloth tied around his face to keep a gag in his mouth.

Blearily, he then opened his eyes when the dizziness passed and noted that he was somewhere dark which smelled of mold…though there was a small sliver of light which came in from the door close to his feet.

His feet, which were tied together with rope.

Now that he shifted, he realized that his hands were tied behind his back with rope as well.

Okay…I appear to be in an old closet. What…what happened?

It took his brain a couple moments to reboot, then he struggled into a seated position instead of laying on his side. Yogi clubbed me!

He had come here because a telegram…right! The telegram which told him that Yogi was the Old Man at the Gourdy Pond shack.

After trying to talk with the old man, it was obvious the guy’s mental facilities weren’t all there, so Phoenix had turned to leave in order to prepare for tomorrow, and…

And then he knocked me out. I must be in the closet in the shack, then.

No windows, and Phoenix couldn’t see his watch. He hoped that he hadn’t been unconscious too long as he shifted around to see what he could notice.

His coat had been removed, as had his satchel. That meant that his cellphone was also not on his person.

Ow! Geez…this is not my day. Phoenix held back a groan as he felt a nail or screw dig into him from behind.

It was an old shack, so he wasn’t surprised that there were dangerous nails/screws sticking out here and there…

Wait. These bindings are rope.

Phoenix squinted in the near darkness of the closet, then felt around until he located that nail again and started to rub the rope holding his wrists together as quickly as he dared.

He jumped a moment, then bit down on the gag to suppress a whimper as the nail cut into his arm, when there was a loud “BLAM” from outside. Good thing I’m updated on all my shots…what in the world was that noise!?

It sounded like it had been right outside the cabin!

Phoenix furiously rubbed at the rope. Now his wrists were burning as well, not to mention getting scratched a bit whenever he missed due to dizziness, but if he could just get his hands free, then he could remove the gag and the rope around his ankles and try to sneak out before he got clobbered again.

C’mon…

It was agonizing and painful, but he had to keep going. He had no idea what Yogi was going to do to him, and he really didn’t want to be “swimming with the fishies” in the pond if the man decided to tie a rock to the rope on his ankles and toss him over the side of a boat.

It had gotten quiet outside for a while, and Phoenix lost track of time until he stilled when he heard the door open.

There was an animalistic whistling noise, then an inhuman “bwak”…

Huh?

“Good girl, Polly,” came Yogi’s voice as he bustled around inside.

“Polly good girl! Bwark!”

Oh. It was a bird of some sort.

There was a noise of fiddling with some sort of knob, then a curse.

“Polly, what's the code to the safe?”

What in the blazes…?

“The code to the safe is ‘1228’.”

“Thank you, Polly.”

More clicking sounds like a dial turning. Phoenix started to work on the ropes again, his mind buzzing with more than just the headache. That sounds like Yogi, but…he’s speaking coherently. What in the world is going on?

He was able to hear the man muttering to either himself or his bird…parrot?…

“…and so far so good according to this letter. Let’s see, just so I’m not forgetting…alright. I dumped the body in the water…”

Body!?

“…next is disguise as Hammond and meet the brat. Then when this is all over with, I’ll take care of the meddler…saying he didn’t stop breathing in there already.”

Phoenix knew the last part was about him, though his heart raced at all of the things he was hearing.

He killed someone, from the sound of it. And…he’s going to disguise as the person he killed to meet someone else and maybe kill them? Then he’ll kill me…

Phoenix winced as he got another cut from the nail, and had to focus on not rubbing the rope as frantically.

Though, that nearly went out the window at the next mutter from Yogi.

“Damn Hammond for making me act like an intellectually disabled fool in court. I didn’t kill Gregory Edgeworth, but my lousy attorney was sure I’d be convicted without pretending insanity…or stupidity.”

The parrot squawked.

“Don’t worry, Polly. It’ll all be over soon. Once I do what this letter says and frame the Edgeworth brat, we’ll clean up. Dump the body in the closet in the woods and nobody will find him for weeks.”

Phoenix stopped entirely, and for a moment, he wondered if he was even still breathing.

His head was throbbing, his ears were ringing, and his stomach was churning…his wrists were burning from the cuts, and it was chilly in the closet despite the heat in the rest of the room, but…

More than his own fate, there was a plot to frame Miles for murder.

It took the clicks from inside to get Phoenix to start rubbing at the rope again as he blinked tears from his eyes. I’ve got to get out of these. Miles is in danger!

“I’ll just put this back in the safe for keeping.”

More clicks and noises, and Phoenix could guess, even in his state, that Yogi just put the letter back in the safety box it had been in.

Some rustling of clothing, and Yogi continued to talk to his parrot about this and that, or to complain or say that he could finally have his revenge on the people who ruined his life.

“If it wasn’t for them…!!”

Phoenix frantically worked at the rope. He didn’t know what he was going to do when he got out, but certainly he couldn’t just run now. I have to stop Yogi before he can hurt Miles…

He could barely even feel any of his pain as he worked with a single-minded focus on cutting the rope. Perhaps if the rope hadn’t been old or if it had been a piece of wood sticking out instead of an old nail, it would have taken him longer.

But as the door shut behind Yogi and it got quiet in the shack again, with the exception of Polly the parrot who sometimes whistled or made noises, Phoenix felt like he was able to pull rather well on the ropes.

Just a little more…come on! If he went out there, that means he’s going to meet Miles soon! I’ve been doing all of this so that Miles wouldn’t have to suffer anymore…if he gets framed for murder, then he’ll definitely suffer!

Rage and adrenaline fueled Phoenix to work faster, and he didn’t even care anymore if it chaffed his wrists or if the nail cut at his skin.

Gotta get out…gotta get out…

Especially when he heard muffled voices from outside the shack.

How long had he been at it?

Phoenix hadn’t even been aware of the passage of time, but as the voices started to move away, he finally heard the ‘snap’ and felt something change in the tension of the rope against his wrists.

So, he pulled as hard as he could and there was another “snap” as the old rope finally gave out.

Phoenix hurriedly pulled out the gag and threw it aside, then fumbled a moment before he untied his ankles. That done, he lurched to his feet…and stumbled into the wall as the world spun dangerously and black spots threatened his vision.

He bit his lip until it bled to keep from passing out (or throwing up) as his head throbbed even worse than before, but he managed to reach for the doorknob.

Thank goodness the door was unlocked; there didn’t even seem to be a lock for it, in fact.

And as it looked, Polly was a macaw.

Phoenix didn’t spare any time to even look for his satchel or grab his coat as he rushed out the front door.

The second he got outside, he had to squint and blink a couple times since it was rather dark out even though there were a couple lights. He couldn’t see his watch, but from what he had glimpsed of the clock inside, it was a couple minutes past eleven.

Noise from the dock drew his attention, and he saw a hooded figure…Yogi!…standing there with a young man who was unmistakably Miles.

Phoenix didn’t have a plan. But he knew that Yogi had most likely just killed someone, so maybe he was armed…

Oh, to hell with it. They’re getting into the boat.

Phoenix let out a loud shout as he rushed forward.

Miles and Yogi looked over at him in surprise, and neither had time or room to move as Phoenix bodily shoved Yogi.

The result was that Phoenix fell (painfully) onto his side in the boat, and Yogi was sent into the water with a loud “splash”.

“…Phoenix?!” Miles exclaimed in shock. “What in the…!?”

“No time!” Phoenix panted as he wobbled to his feet. “He might be armed…it’s a setup! He’s going to try and frame you for murder! Yogi murdered a guy!”

“Yogi? I was meeting with Hammond.”

“The defense attorney? Nononono…” Phoenix tugged on Miles’ hand to get him out of the boat and onto the dock again. “That…”

He pointed to the man who just surfaced with his free hand.

“…is Yanni Yogi. He didn’t shoot your dad, von Karma did I’m pretty sure, but he just dumped a body somewhere and was planning on framing you for that murder!”

Miles looked a little surprised as well as confused.

That was when Yogi cursed and Phoenix realized that the guy had made it to shore. “I thought you were dead.”

“Sorry to burst your bubble. Got a killer headache, though. Thanks for that.” Phoenix stepped out so that he was between Yogi and Miles in case the man had a weapon.

Miles still looked a little flummoxed as he was attempting to make sense of everything Phoenix had just said to him. He said von Karma killed my father? And this was a trap? What the hell is going on!?

The soaked Yogi then did as Phoenix feared.

He brandished a firearm.

Both Phoenix and Miles stiffened when they saw the glint of metal off of the pier lights.

“Would have been better if you had died…” Yogi spat. “But to be honest right now, trying to hide three bodies is too much work. So, here’s how it’s going to go. I’m going to grab a clean set of clothes and leave. And you two are going to stay put right where you are until I’m out of the area.”

“You should turn yourself in, instead.” Phoenix attempted to bargain, his heart thudding in his chest in time with the throbbing in his head.

Behind him, Miles was still stunned at the turn of events.

“And spend the rest of my life in jail? Not a chance. Stay. Put.” Yogi slowly backed up until he got into the hut, then continued to stare at them from the open door as he felt around for the bag he had apparently prepared in case everything went wrong.

“Phoenix,” Miles whispered. “What on earth is all this about? Also…why is your hand sticky?”

Phoenix hadn’t realized that he still held onto Miles’ hand, so he let go in order to whisper back without turning his head (in order to keep an eye on the man waving a pistol at them). “Long, long story. But the short version is that guy was the bailiff in the DL-6 case.”

“I figured it was about that…” Miles’ voice sounded a bit faint.

Phoenix decided not to tell him that he believed his hand was sticky due to blood from cutting himself on the nail so many times. “It’ll be okay. We’re both alive, and the plan was foiled.”

“Unless he decides to shoot us dead right here.”

They stopped whispering as Yogi emerged from the cabin again with a bag in hand.

Phoenix was going to ask about the parrot, but figured that he probably shouldn’t draw even more attention to them.

Yogi kept his eye on them as he backed up the trail behind his house…then, he turned and fled so quickly that he was nothing more than a blur.

They could hear the sound of gravel and dirt crunching underfoot, then the sound of a car engine not too long after that.

A pair of headlights, and they had to dive out of the way as a jeep came barreling down and nearly clipped them before it sped off into the night.

For a moment, Phoenix and Miles sat on the sandy beach, stunned.

Then, Phoenix went to rub his head…and thought better of it when that caused a flare of pain to shoot through him. “We should, uh…probably call the police or something…”

Miles looked to him, then balked as he finally got a good look. “Is that…your blood?!”

“Probably. Dunno whose else it’d be.” Phoenix felt a bit woozy, but at the same time, oddly calm despite what just happened.

Miles grabbed his hand and pulled him into the cabin, then drew in a short breath when he got a good look at Phoenix in the light.

Blood caked to the right side of Phoenix’s forehead and ran down to his eye (which, Miles realized, was only half lidded), face and skin pale, and his hands and wrists (as well as his sleeves) riddled with scratches, bleeding cuts, and chafing.

“Holy…! Sit down before you pass out!” Miles practically pushed Phoenix to take a seat on the floor. He was on the verge of panic as he pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance.

Meanwhile, Phoenix had crawled over to the safe in the room and stared at it. He put the instructions back in here. What was the combo, again? Drat! I don’t remember…

Remembering…

“Phoenix, for goodness sakes, stay still before you make your injuries worse! An ambulance is on their way, and the police are going to canvas the area for Yogi.”

“Should probably have them search this area, too,” Phoenix stated as he fiddled with the knobs on the safe. “From the muttering I heard when I was in the closet, it sounded like Yogi killed someone and dumped them around here.”

Miles’ face went white, and he had to take a couple deep breaths to keep from passing out, himself. In fact, he was trying not to think about what Phoenix had said on the dock for the time being in order to manage this.

One crisis at a time.

Thus, he got back on the phone with the police to report that.

That was when Phoenix remembered, and turned to the bird. “Polly, what's the code to the safe?”

It was what Yogi had said before Polly responded, so hopefully it would…

“The code to the safe is 1228. Bwark!”

Phoenix grinned and managed to ignore some of the pounding in his head. It was starting to get worse now that adrenaline was wearing off, but there was definitely one more thing he had to do.

He hadn’t seen his jacket or satchel, and guessed that they might (with his phone) be floating in the lake by now.

It was a good thing he hadn’t grabbed the actual case file, he mused, as he turned the dials on the safe.

“The police are also on their way…what are you doing now?” Miles sounded exhausted and confused…

…and Phoenix couldn’t blame him.

“Yogi was following a set of instructions…bingo.” Phoenix got the safe open with a ‘click’, then pulled out the piece of paper within and set it on the kotatsu nearby.

Miles muttered about fingerprints and pulled on a set of gloves before he took a look at it…and nearly reeled back in shock.

Not just at the contents, but at the very familiar handwriting it was done in.

He had seen that handwriting…he knew that handwriting.

He had to look at that handwriting for twelve years.

“This…von Karma wrote this…” Miles said faintly as the world buzzed around him.

“Woa! And you’re worried about me passing out? Already did that when I got clubbed…you should sit down, too.”

“I’m fine!” Miles shook his head as he looked on in horror at the contents of the letter…

…which detailed everything. From that Miles was going to be going to the lake to meet with “Hammond” to an elaborate plan involving firing two shots and jumping off the boat into the water so that Miles would take the fall for Hammond’s death.

…plus an additional instruction to “get rid of” an apparent “interloper” who was “digging too deep”.

“Yea, that’s probably me,” Phoenix pointed out at the last part. He felt oddly calm, and wondered if he was going into shock or something. “Hey, Miles?”

“What?” Miles had sat down heavily as he stared at the paper.

“You okay?”

“I should ask you that. Don’t ask questions which have obvious answers.” Miles rubbed his face. Phoenix said earlier that von Karma killed my father. Now this…he was going to try to set me up for murder.

Miles slowly folded the note and put it in his pocket. At Phoenix’s questioning noise, he explained: “If the police took this in as evidence, it could ‘disappear’. With von Karma involved, he would destroy this the second he got the chance.”

“Oh.” Phoenix mused between the throbbing in his head. And the ringing. Or was that just the sirens from the ambulance and police? He wasn’t sure. “Hey, Miles?”

“Yes?”

“Glad you’re okay. Also, uh…” Phoenix wavered. “Will you contact Mia for me? Dunno where my phone is and…I think I miiiight be going into shock, here.”

Miles practically jumped as he quickly pulled off his coat…with a muttered curse to himself for not noticing…and wrapped it around Phoenix. “The police and ambulance are here. Just hang on, alright? And yes…I’ll contact Miss Fey for you.”

Phoenix bobbed his head. “Thanks.” The coat smelled nice, and the warmth was certainly appreciated. There was even a steadying hand at his back, and that was perhaps the only reason why he didn’t pass out.

Miles is…shaking. But he’s trying to help.

Phoenix didn’t remember much of the trip to the hospital or what happened between that and waking up in a hospital bed, but he was sure that Miles was there the entire time.

And for some reason, that thought made him smile before the drugs knocked him back out.

Miles sat against the wall across from Phoenix’s room in the hospital, legs pulled up and elbows resting on his knees so he could hide his face in his hands.

His friend…was he even allowed to use that word?…would be fine, but they wanted to monitor him overnight and Miles just didn’t have the strength to return to the waiting room in the clinic.

It’s my fault.

The line ran through his head like some twisted mantra.

If I hadn’t been too…too damn scared to investigate, myself…Phoenix shouldn’t have even gotten caught up in this! It was my problem, and I just, in my weakness, allowed him to get involved.

He hated that thought more than he hated how vulnerable it made him feel.

Miles almost wished he was back in time a couple months when he had pushed down his emotions. It had certainly been easier when he didn’t have to worry about anyone (besides his own career).

Yet, he knew that this was the proper thing; that he should be feeling this way and that not only shouldn't he go back, that he didn’t want to go back to that time. It hurt right now, and he was no masochist, but he felt more human.

Still, that scared him.

It was like he was nine years old again and Phoenix had up and decided to be his friend after that class trial; had cracked his stoic exterior and exposed him to aspects of friendship Miles hadn’t even known existed since nobody had ever wanted to be his friend before.

Miles shuddered on a hitched breath. And just like back then, he reappeared in my life and turned it upside down. And like an idiot, I let him start investigating into my past.

Why had he done that? Him? Who wasn’t as emotionally open as Phoenix?

Because I was scared. I was…vulnerable.

The foundation of his world had been shaken ever since Phoenix first showed up as the defendant in a case he had subbed in at; every time Phoenix made contact with him, it made him…feel things.

Things he hadn’t felt in years…possibly even in a decade.

Things besides self-hatred, guilt, and sorrow.

And so of course, he latched onto that even though it terrified him.

Even though he tried to avoid it at first…avoid Phoenix.

But of course, Phoenix wasn’t one to give up so quickly, and slowly but surely, Miles had told him even his darkest of secrets:

The DL-6 case.

In a moment of weakness after an earthquake had shaken him, and because Phoenix’s honest warmth was so pure that he craved that feeling of safety and friendship (or perhaps…something more? He didn’t quite understand all his feelings when it came to the other man)…

…that he grasped onto it like a drowning man latched onto a life preserver.

After each incident he had been less and less embarrassed about his vulnerability, although there was still a level of self-consciousness after Phoenix had left for the day or hung up the phone.

But now he’s injured because of me. Because I let him get close.

Was it a mistake? Miles didn’t want it to have been a mistake, because he craved the warmth Phoenix gave him; craved that fluttering in his entire being, despite how scary it was at times, which chased away the cold void which had settled there over the past decade.

I’m horrible…because aside from maybe mustering the courage to do the investigation legwork myself, I wouldn’t have done it any differently. I…I wanted him to save me from myself.

That thought hit him like a ton of bricks.

He had wanted to be saved.

And Phoenix was there. Always at my side, even through the Fred Herring case. Even in the face of Herring’s vitriol for me, he still smiled at me afterwards and offered to go for coffee. Even though I had sent an innocent man to prison…

And even though he had nearly sent Phoenix to prison…

…he forgave me.

Miles nearly laughed at the absurdity of it. What a fool. He’s a complete bleeding heart of an idiot…

Well, perhaps “idiot” wasn’t the correct term.

Could an “idiot” have solved a twelve year old murder case?

And that’s another can of worms. I know von Karma doesn’t like me. I had thought, when I was growing up under him, I could at least make him proud because he had taken me in.

What a stupid, childish thought.

But he wrote that note. He somehow planned for Phoenix to be at the boathouse…had intended on having that ex-bailiff murder two people and pin it all on me. Then why had he even taken me in? Taught me how to be a prosecutor…

A horrible thought hit him which made him nauseated for a moment.

What if…it was all a ruse? I’m everything my father stood against. I bent the rules and withheld evidence…I intimidated witnesses and had them withhold any information which didn’t benefit my case. I didn’t care about ‘justice’ or finding the ‘truth’…only getting a guilty verdict for some absurd perfect record.

If that had all been part of von Karma’s plan…if he could believe Phoenix that von Karma was also the one who killed his father…

He didn’t know why; it seemed Phoenix did, but he couldn’t ask a currently unconscious man for information.

Miles was almost afraid of the thought that he knew he had to ask when Phoenix woke up, but certainly the man held the answers, and possible confirmation, to his bone-chilling theory.

It might have all just been a ruse. I wasn’t taken in by von Karma because he felt guilty over killing my father…no, that man doesn’t feel ‘guilt’. And it wasn’t because he felt sorry for me, because he doesn’t really care for anyone besides himself.

Not even Franziska ever received a hint of the parental warmth Gregory Edgeworth had at least given to Miles.

He made a mental note to contact her at some point in hopes that it wasn’t too late for her.

Cold, seemingly uncaring, bottling up emotions…we’re not allowed to cry, not allowed to grieve, not allowed to fail…and certainly, not allowed to act like children.

Miles still had the red Signal Samurai keychain only because he had kept it carefully hidden from von Karma. It was stuffed away in the back of his closet at the moment since he had boxed it up, but hadn’t quite been willing to throw it out for some reason even when he moved back to Japanifornia from Germany.

He couldn’t just let go, apparently, and he was glad he didn’t.

On the other hand, Phoenix got caught up in my problems because of it. And now look! He’s in the hospital with a concussion due to it!

His thoughts came full circle and started to hammer at him with guilt which made his breath come out short…

…until a familiar voice spoke up.

“Is his condition that bad?”

Miles startled and looked up in surprise. Though, he really shouldn’t have been surprised to see Mia there considering that he had been the one to call her when they reached the hospital and Phoenix was carted off for treatment.

Mia raised an eyebrow at him. She would never tell him, but she had actually been standing there for a couple minutes. Just seeing Miles Edgeworth, whom she only knew as someone more than just the Demon Prosecutor and from childhood stories Phoenix told her, in such a state…

It had been a shock to her. And when their eyes met, he looked so young; far younger than his actual age.

Actually, it reminded Mia of when one Phoenix Wright was sprawled out on the couch in the defendant’s lobby during an impromptu recess, bawling in heartbreak and pain.

Though Miles had no tears on his face or any sign of them, his eyes were suspiciously bright and he looked just as lost.

Mia wondered if she was seeing Miles from Phoenix’s point of view, because the man in front of her was not the Demon Prosecutor.

It wasn’t even the person she had crossed paths with in court (twice now).

Before she could see even more of the pain in his eyes, he looked away as a flush painted his pale cheeks.

“Are you going to laugh?”

“Hardly.” Mia deadpanned. “I’m not that sort of person. I might not hold you in high regards, but Phoenix does…”

Miles flinched.

“…and I trust Phoenix. Speaking of whom…” Mia looked at the door with Phoenix’s name on the plate.

“Ah…they said he had a concussion and that there would be some bruising. There was a cut, but he didn’t even need stitches,” Miles explained as he noted her gaze. “Some cuts and abrasions from…being tied up…on his wrists.”

“What exactly happened?” Mia crossed her arms.

“I’m honestly not sure.” Miles admitted quietly as he kept his gaze averted from her piercing one in his moment of weakness. “I received a note and went to the docks. I was about to get into a boat to speak privately with whom I thought was the defense attorney who worked my father’s case when…

“…when Phoenix burst out of nowhere and tackled the guy into the water. I didn’t know he was injured until the man fled. Though, I have my guesses as to what happened.”

He didn’t want to mention the letter to Mia. Even though Phoenix trusted her, if she slipped up and said something then it could get out.

That letter was the most incriminating piece of evidence against von Karma for orchestrating the entire thing, and he was keeping it close.

“I see. Next question. Why are you sitting in the hallway?”

“Visiting hours are long since over considering that it’s after midnight. Only family and emergency contacts can see him, and his grandmother is on vacation.”

It didn’t really explain why he was in the hallway and not in the waiting area, but Miles didn’t want to admit to this woman, whom he was still a little uncomfortable around, that he had felt like he wanted to be as close to Phoenix as possible right now;

That he was afraid von Karma would come in to finish the job, or that something terrible would happen and he would be left in the dark again as Phoenix suffered.

Really, he just wanted to be close to the only person who believed in him; who gave his life meaning.

Mia examined Miles for a moment; his pale complexion, the way his hands trembled occasionally…

If she had never seen him in the papers or on the other side of the courtroom, she wouldn’t even know that this was the Demon Prosecutor. Or maybe, he’s exorcised that demon.

Once again, she was reminded of the broken look on Phoenix’s exhausted face in that defendant’s lobby, and she recalled how Phoenix was constantly telling her lately that “Edgeworth is suffering”…or more recently: “Miles is hurting, but he’s really trying to be a better person and I want to help him”.

Mia didn’t give the benefit of the doubt as easily as Phoenix did, but the young man in front of her looked so small that she couldn’t help feel like she could understand some of how Phoenix saw him.

“I want to apologize to you,” Miles said quietly.

“Oh?”

Miles bowed his head. “It was…my weakness which put Phoenix in this situation. I should have been the one investigating. I was just…” …too scared. Too weak. So I ran away from it instead of confronting it.

He knew he should admit it to Mia, as he felt he certainly owed her (after all, it was her persistence which saved Phoenix from him a month ago), but he couldn’t bring himself to admit his weakness to her.

To Phoenix, he somehow opened up easily…but though he tried to explain it to someone he certainly owed this apology to, he felt like anything he said would not only be difficult to articulate but also just wind up sounding like an excuse.

Miles ran a hand up his face and clutched at his hair slightly so he wouldn’t have to see whatever expression…probably disgust…she was making even though he knew he deserved it. “And I also want to thank you. For defending him against me. I was…a monster then. Maybe even still am.”

Mia mulled that over a moment. “Phoenix doesn’t seem to think you are.”

“Phoenix is a hopeless optimist.”

“And yet, he has an uncanny ability to see the good in people,” Mia said softly.

Miles stiffened, and it took him a few moments to speak again. When he did, his voice was suspiciously thick even though there were still no tears:

“Yes. He certainly is. He can see the good in people who…can’t even see the good in themselves.”

Mia didn’t fully forgive Miles for everything he had done, but at that moment, she at least realized that Phoenix was right: he was trying. He was trying to be a better person, and recognized (perhaps to an unhealthy level, even), that he had done some terrible things.

Maybe I should recommend a therapist to him, too.

Instead, Mia stepped up and offered her hand to him. “Come on. We can go see him.”

“Family and emergency contacts only…”

Mia was going to make a comment about bending the rules, but with how self-deprecating Miles was talking earlier, decided not to twist the knife. “Yes, well…I’m sure I can get you permission.”

Miles looked up at her quizzically.

Mia smiled at his confused look. “Apparently, when he moved into his new apartment, he put me down as an emergency contact.”

Miles stared owlishly at her. He didn’t feel jealous, but more of extremely confused; after all, if she could have gone in at any time… “Why…did you…?”

Mia knew what he was asking, and shrugged. “I guess…I was reminded for a moment of someone else I knew a month ago. Someone who had just learned something devastating and was lost. And it wasn’t just that he was my client that I couldn’t leave him alone, but…”

Recognition flooded through Miles’ eyes, and he looked away from her a moment with a frown. “How can you even compare us? In terms of humanity and innocence, he’s far more than me…”

Mia shrugged again and wiggled her fingers at him in an invitation. “Honestly? I don’t really know right now.”

Miles figured that was a peace offering (for the moment, at least), and though he felt he didn’t deserve it, he had reached slowly for her hand before he realized it.

Mia crossed the distance and clasped her hand in his…his hands are cold. Well, nerves can do that…and helped him to his feet.

Miles looked away at first, embarrassed, then gave her a tiny nod and a barely audible and hoarse “thank you”.

Though Mia saw him wipe a tear from his eyes, she didn’t call him out on it as she opened the door to Phoenix’s room so they could wait for him to wake up in a more comfortable location.

She still wasn’t sure what to think of the young man who shuffled into the room behind her, but in the least, the ‘Demon Prosecutor’ was starting to be replaced by ‘Miles Edgeworth’ in her mind.

As she glanced at her apprentice who lay asleep in the bed, gauze wrapped around his head but his complexion mostly healthy, she couldn’t help her fond smile as she thought to herself:

Phoenix…you’re a damn miracle worker.

Chapter Text

When Phoenix woke up at the hospital, it took him a few moments to first figure out where he was and why he wasn’t in his own bed (or rather, the mattress serving as his bed until the frame arrived this weekend).

Then, he recalled the events of the previous night, and the only thing which kept him from shooting into a seated position was the fact that he was wondering if he was hallucinating.

“Don’t sit up too quickly,” Mia warned him. “That’s quite a nasty bump you managed to get yourself.”

“Uh…right.” Phoenix blinked a couple times as she helped him adjust the bed, but his focus was going between her and Miles. “So…?”

Mia chuckled. “Least likely people to be seen together, right?”

Phoenix blushed and would have nodded if his head didn’t throb when he attempted to.

Now that he thought about it, his head didn’t hurt nearly as much as before.

“You have a good mentor,” Miles said from the chair he was seated on.

Phoenix frowned, but only because of how ragged Miles looked. “Well yea. Mia’s awesome. But you look like you’ve had a rough time.”

Miles shrugged. “Not nearly as bad as the time you had.”

Phoenix crossed his arms. “That doesn’t negate your own pain, you know. Oh…hey, they bandaged my arms, too.”

Mia chortled as she took her own seat again. “Well, you did have some scratches and chafing…”

“Oh yea.” Phoenix mused, then looked to Miles. “Do you still have the letter?”

“Of course.”

Phoenix hesitated a moment, then sighed and said: “We should probably call the police on von Karma, then…”

Mia glanced at him when he trailed off.

“…oh, crap. Did they find my satchel and phone?!” Phoenix asked, eyes wide in a panic.

“Your satchel, yes…” Miles explained. “That and your coat were found in Yogi’s closet when they did a search. Your phone…apparently, they found that in the lake. When they found Hammond’s body.”

Phoenix groaned. “All the pictures of the evidence was on that phone! If von Karma knew I was investigating, there’s no way he’d leave the evidence locker empty!”

Miles honestly agreed. It was highly likely that the man had, whenever he discovered Phoenix was poking around, gone and taken the evidence. He didn’t have the heart to tell Phoenix that, but the look on his face must have been telling enough.

Mia cleared her throat. “Okay, the pity party ends there with you two. Did you forget about something, Phoenix?”

Miles mumbled something about how they were lucky Phoenix didn’t forget his own name after the blow he took.

Mia pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Who was the one who texted you the photos?”

Phoenix looked up at her hopefully. “You…didn’t delete them?”

“Never got around to it. So yes…I still have them.”

Phoenix cheered, then grimaced and clutched his head when it throbbed. “Ow ow…less of doing that.”

“I hate to be the downer,” Miles piped up, “but if von Karma took the actual evidence, then they won’t have anything to run a ballistics test on.”

“How’d you know about that?” Phoenix blinked owlishly.

Mia put her phone back in her pocket. “I updated him while we were waiting for you to wake up. You left half of your notes on your desk, and I filled in the gaps from what I remembered you saying whenever you had questions.”

“Oh.” Phoenix sagged. “Sorry, Miles. I was going to tell you today…”

“I don’t blame you even one iota, Phoenix.” Miles interrupted.

Phoenix then squinted at him. “Don’t blame yourself, either.”

Miles rubbed his arm and averted his eyes a moment. “I wasn’t…”

“You totally were,” Phoenix huffed. “Look…I chose to get involved in this. It’s my own fault I let my guard down, especially after running into von Karma earlier that day in the courthouse while I was investigating.”

“You what?!” both Mia and Miles exclaimed, though the latter’s was more of a strangled “what” than Mia’s gasp.

Phoenix cringed. “Uh…volume?”

The two apologized, then started to launch into a separate lecture.

“…should have told me immediately when you got back! He’s a dangerous man, Phoenix…!”

“Dammit, Phoenix, I’ve been trying to keep you away from him because I know first hand what he can do to people…!”

Phoenix covered his ears. “Woa, woa…! C’mon…! I didn’t try to run into him! He interrupted me while I was investigating! Can you two, uh…take turns if you’re gonna scold me?”

Mia and Miles stopped and looked at each other. A moment of understanding passed between them as they realized that both of them were concerned for Phoenix’s safety.

“What did you discuss?” Miles finally asked, still horrified that the two had met.

“Uh…I mostly yelled at him for the way he treated you,” Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck.

Miles palmed his face.

Mia blinked a couple of times, then covered her mouth and turned away to try and hide her laughter, though her shaking shoulders and occasional giggles gave her away. “Oh my…only you, Phoenix.”

Phoenix relaxed slightly, glad that his two favorite people in the world seemed to have a truce between them…and that they weren’t shouting at him for being stupid anymore.

Mia wiped tears of mirth from her eyes and turned back around. “And as for the evidence and ballistics issue…I checked out the bullet. Literally, checked it out of the archive.”

Both Phoenix and Miles looked at her; the former’s jaw was dropped, and the latter looked both shocked and hopeful.

Mia smirked. “Did you really think that, after knowing all the rumors surrounding von Karma, I’d leave things to chance? Phoenix, after you talked about the bullet, I went and retrieved it from the evidence locker since I thought it could help you. Signed it out, of course. So even if he took the rest of what was in there, we have the most crucial key.  Just doing my job as a mentor.”

“Mia, if I could get up right now without probably getting dizzy, I’d hug you,” said Phoenix, stars practically in his eyes.

Miles was also impressed. “I appreciate the foresight.”

Mia nearly said “it wasn’t for you”, but held her tongue. He’s trying to change from the Edgeworth I’ve seen. He was honestly concerned over Phoenix, and seems to blame himself for everything which happened…which is certainly not healthy.

Yes, she had checked out the bullet as evidence for Phoenix and not Miles…but she decided that perhaps he could still be redeemed.

“Uh…will they be able to test the other bullet without a gun?” Phoenix asked.

Miles nodded. “Forensics is not to be underestimated. Are you positive that the bullet is in him? That scream I heard wasn’t my father’s?”

“Your dad didn’t mention screaming, so it makes sense,” Phoenix said. “Oh. I was going to ask Larry if he had a metal detector I could borrow for the trial…”

Miles crossed his arms. “I’ll ask Gumshoe and borrow one. But have you forgotten that you’re not a prosecutor, Phoenix, and neither is Miss Fey?”

The wide-eyed look on Phoenix’s face was the answer to that.

Miles sighed. “Well, no trouble. I’ll prosecute him.”

Phoenix’s shock turned to worry. “Will you be alright doing that? I know he’s an abusive toad…”

Mia snorted a laugh at Phoenix’s term for von Karma.

“…and again, you don’t owe him a thing for being such a jerk, but…”

“I…appreciate your concern. However, I’ll be…” Miles trailed off. No, he wouldn’t be “fine”, and he wouldn’t feel right lying to Phoenix. “I’ll get through it. If he’s truly guilty for more than just setting me up to take the fall for murder, then I will prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law for the DL-6 case.”

Phoenix beamed at him.

Miles nearly looked away from the look, because it was so full of joy and pride, aimed at him, and he still wasn’t sure he deserved it.

“You might wanna get some rest, then,” Mia teased. “Both of you look like zombies, and that doesn’t set a good impression in court.”

Miles flushed, while Phoenix gave her a dry look.

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out as he stood in the prosecutor’s lobby. He’d only had a day to do further investigation (and actually got a new piece of evidence thanks to Mia Fey…well, once he asked around), and now he was getting ready to prosecute his mentor and adoptive father…

…not that anyone in their right mind would ever call von Karma a “father”.

He had never been nervous about prosecuting a case before, but he had no idea what was going to happen. Apparently, von Karma was being allowed to represent himself even though the man wasn’t a defense attorney.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t find anyone, as the sleazeball who defended Dahlia Hawthorne had offered, it was that von Karma didn’t trust anyone else to do it.

And for some reason, this messed up justice system is allowing a prosecuting attorney to act as his own defense lawyer.

If the deck was stacked in von Karma’s favor in regards to how the system (and Judge) saw him, then Miles was in for an uphill battle even with his decisive evidence.

…then again, aside from the letter, he didn’t have any evidence since von Karma had refused to submit to being scanned with a metal detector.

Which meant that Miles would have to gamble in court.

Miles did not like gambling.

“Nervous?”

Miles nearly jumped, but spun around and let out a breath. “Oh…it’s you, Phoenix.”

Phoenix held up his hand in greeting. He still bore the bandage around his head, though he had been able to exchange some of the bandages on his arms for plasters.

“And yes, I am. You heard von Karma refused to be scanned…I had to bring Gumshoe’s metal detector with me to court.” Miles indicated the instrument which was propped up in the corner. “I’m gambling.”

“It’s not a gamble.” Phoenix stated confidently. “It’s the only logical conclusion.”

“And if that bullet is lodged in someone else’s shoulder? What then?”

“Pretty sure it’s not. I mean, we could scan all of the prosecutors and defense attorneys which were there that day, but the only one who wouldn’t admit that he got shot or gone to the hospital is von Karma,” Phoenix reasoned.

Miles had to admit that the logic was fairly sound. “Well, it’s your funeral since you’re being called as a witness. They caught Yogi last night just before he managed to cross the boarder, but I doubt we’ll get anything useful out of him.”

Plus, the man was going to be tried in a separate case in a couple days for the murder of Hammond.

“I can handle whatever von Karma throws at me. Did he ever find a defense attorney?”

“He refused all of them and is defending himself.”

Phoenix looked confused. “But…he’s a prosecutor.”

Miles shrugged. “He’s also von Karma. Privilege, I suppose.”

“Ungh. Justice is going to be sweet…unless he can buy his way out?”

“I’m not sure what sort of sentence he’ll get for felony murder,” Miles admitted as he rubbed his arm. “The murder charge in the DL-6 case should put him away for life in the very least. I doubt they’d send him to death row.”

Which is stupid, considering that some criminals have been sent there for lesser charges.

By the look on Phoenix’s face, he agreed.

They both knew for a fact that von Karma was guilty of at least the felony murder charge when he had Yogi kill Hammond for him in order to frame Miles.

However, Miles was less certain of Phoenix’s deduction. Part of him could believe it, and the other part was still having trouble with it.

“If things don’t go well and he walks…” Miles said slowly, “…then he’s going to make our lives hell if not get someone to actually kill us.”

“He won’t walk. He’s up against you, and you’re an awesome prosecutor.”

Miles snorted. “And everything I know I learned from him. He’ll know what my next move is going to be and will be ready to outwit me…”

“Hey. No he won’t.” Phoenix interrupted.

Miles’ frown deepened. He’s the most dangerous person I’ve ever been up against. And if a rookie defense attorney was able to best me, then the man who taught me will…

Phoenix gently pried Miles’ hand away from the other man’s arm. “I don’t think we need matching bandages…loosen your grip.”

“He nearly got you killed once! If he walks, he’s going to finish the job. And if he walks and he’s the one who killed my father…” Miles worried aloud. “Or if the Judge declares that I’m too close to this and a mistrial is called…”

There was no way any other prosecutor would willingly go up against von Karma.

With nobody to prosecute, the case would be called with a “not guilty” verdict.

Phoenix felt how cold Miles’ hand was, and made a split second decision.

Miles stumbled a bit when he was pulled into a one-armed embrace. A “bro” hug.

Yet, he didn’t pull away because for some reason he didn’t understand, he craved this sort of contact.

“Hey,” Phoenix spoke softly. “You’re going to do fine. You’re Miles freaking Edgeworth. You’re not the Demon Prosecutor anymore, but you’re still the best prosecutor out there.”

“Second best…”

“The best,” Phoenix emphasized firmly. “And I’ll be literally behind you in the gallery the entire way…well, except when I’m called as a witness.”

“Phoenix…” Miles hated the way his voice trembled, but he slowly felt his nervousness start to disappear.

“In the short time we’ve been reunited, you’ve come so far. You’ve changed for the better, being on the side of justice instead of a perfect record. And you’ve been through so much, too. More than anyone I know,” Phoenix murmured.

Miles squeezed his eyes shut. “I…”

“That old toad tried so hard to destroy you recently, but you’re still standing here. And I know you’re used to doing things on your own, but you’re not alone anymore. I’m here…and even Mia. She was saying the other day that you’re not so bad.”

Miles made a sound of disbelief.

Phoenix laughed softly. “Right? Point is, you’ve got us. It’s okay to be nervous or scared, but you’ve got this. I believe in you, Miles.”

Miles hadn’t known that he needed to hear that until the words were out of Phoenix’s mouth. All his remaining nervousness and “what ifs” went away, and he finally started to feel the typical swell of confidence.

Finally, he reached up and gave Phoenix’s back a gentle pat to let him know he appreciated the sentiment. Only he makes me feel this way. It’s nice knowing that I’m not alone and that even Miss Fey is on my side, but knowing Phoenix is here is…

He felt like it was all he needed.

“All good, now? ‘Cause I think they’re going to be calling for you soon.” Phoenix didn’t quite want to break the hold, either, because it felt right.

But, there was sort of a trial which would be starting soon, and Phoenix was the prosecution’s first witness.

Miles took a deep, steadying breath, then let it out and pulled back. “Thank you.”

Phoenix beamed. “Anytime! Now…let’s go get you your life back!”

Chapter Text

For all appearances, Miles looked calm, cool, and collected as he stood at the prosecution side of the desk.

Manfred von Karma also looked smug from where he stood on the defense side, though whispers went up in the gallery when they didn’t see a defense attorney present.

Judge banged the gavel. “Order! Yes, erm…as many of you are wondering, permission was given to Manfred von Karma to defend himself given that he is a lawyer.”

There were more whispers in the gallery, though Mia merely glared down at the smirking old man from where she sat on the prosecution side. Phoenix would be joining her when he was finished testifying, so for now she was on her own.

Another bang on the gavel. “Now then…is the prosecution ready?”

“Yes, your honor.” Miles stood tall.

“And is the defense ready?” Judge asked.

Manfred scoffed. “Let’s just end this farce already.”

Judge blinked a couple of times, but then cleared his throat. “I shall take that as a ‘yes’…”

Miles, from behind the desk, thought to himself: It wouldn’t hurt for you to grow a spine, judge.

“We are gathered here today for the trial of Manfred von Karma, who is being charged with one count of felony murder and…oh my! One count of second degree murder in regards to a case, apparently related to the felony murder charge which the prosecution intends to prove, from twelve years ago!”

Whispers went up in the gallery again, ranging from disbelief to pure shock.

Miles merely crossed his arms as he waited for it to pass…

Judge banged his gavel again a couple times.

…or that.

“I shall turn things over to the prosecution to start with an opening statement of the felony murder charge,” Judge indicated for Miles to go ahead.

This was to be expected, as they were sort of tying in a second degree murder charge since the DL-6 case played a role in the current events.

Manfred looked dour as he realized that he couldn’t get the first word in, but otherwise held his tongue.

Miles did not expect it to last as he nodded to the Judge and held up the piece of paper with the statement. “The accused, Manfred von Karma, performed an exchange with Yanni Yogi in order to not only have Robert Hammond killed and pin the blame on someone else, but to also eliminate a law student who was investigating into the DL-6 case.

“While he did not succeed in killing the law student, aforementioned student had to be admitted to the hospital for a concussion and multiple abrasions. Robert Hammond’s body was found in Gourd Lake, dead by a single bullet to the heart.”

Murmurs went up from the gallery, but quickly quieted before the judge even needed to bang the gavel.

Miles continued: “The prosecution is pursuing, with undeniable evidence, that this account is correct and that the events were perpetuated due to what occurred twelve years ago during the DL-6 case.

“The prosecution also has reason to believe, and proof to back it up, that the accused lured the law student out to the lake before giving Yogi instructions for murder.”

Judge looked positively shocked. “Good heavens…!”

Manfred interrupted. “All hearsay. It shall become clear that this is merely an attempt to smear me.”

Miles placed the piece of paper down, then retrieved another in a bag along with a report of some sort. “Interesting that you still feign ignorance when there is decisive proof linking you to giving Yogi instructions of murder. The prosecution would like to submit this letter to the court as official evidence.”

As it was placed on the counter and magnified on the screens for the rest of the court (and the judge), Miles noted the flicker of rage which crossed von Karma’s face for a moment before he schooled his expression back to neutral.

“This is…!” Judge gasped.

Miles nodded. “A set of instructions, hand written by the accused, with explicit instructions to Yogi on how to perform the crime.”

Manfred scoffed. “Objection. There is no signature on that letter or even an addressee. Thus, there is no proof telling to whom the letter was intended or who wrote it.”

Miles then reached into his open briefcase. “The prosecution, of course, objects to that.”

He didn’t do any of his typical finger-waggling or open-handed shrugging smirks; he was still a bundle of nerves on the inside. Plus, he didn’t want to use von Karma’s smug techniques.

Part of why he was so insistent on prosecuting this case wasn’t just to get closure from twelve years ago and learn the honest to goodness truth, but also to prove that he had changed; and to do that, he couldn’t fall back into his old disgusting habits.

“The letter was dusted for fingerprints, and came back with a set matching Yanni Yogi.”

Miles submitted the fingerprint analysis to the court.

Of course, it also had Phoenix’s prints on it, but they weren’t the highlighted ones and he didn’t feel the need to mention it.

If he did, then it would just prolong the trial as he was sure von Karma would protest and…

“Objection. There appears to be two different sets of fingerprints on that paper. Is one of those sets mine?”

Miles would have been irked any other time, but he already knew where this was headed and thus managed to respond neutrally: “No. They belong to the law student who found the note and did not take precautions of handling it.”

A scoff from Manfred. “And, if I had written it, why isn’t mine on there? Perhaps the prosecution should think before submitting so-called evidence…if he is even capable of doing so.” Manfred sneered.

Miles crossed his arms and tapped an index finger to his bicep. And of course, he’s going to be difficult about it.

Judge looked to Miles. “This is true…there is another set of fingerprints on it, and that question is a fair one…”

“Your honor, you’ll note the lack of my own fingerprints on that paper. This is due to the fact that I was wearing gloves when I handled it, and thus left none. If the defendant wore gloves, it explains the reason…”

“Objection. You have no proof that I did. I’m not wearing gloves at the moment, now am I?” Manfred smirked. “Unless you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I once had that letter in my possession.”

“As a matter of fact, I can.” Miles handed over the paper which looked to be the lab report he had taken out with the letter earlier. “I had the contents of the letter analyzed, and of course, that means the handwriting. As you can see, it’s a perfect match to the defendant’s.”

Judge’s eyes were wide as he looked at the information. “It is, indeed…”

Whispers were going up in the gallery:

“So he really wrote it?”

“Of course he did!”

“But fingerprints…”

“He must have worn gloves! The handwriting matches!”

Manfred slammed his cane on the ground. “Objection! This so-called ‘evidence’ is clearly fabricated!”

Silence spilled over the room.

Miles narrowed his eyes. “That is a hefty accusation.  Can you prove it?”

Manfred glared over the floor.

“You seem to forget, von Karma,” Miles said lowly, but still audibly, “that you are now in the position of the defense. And apparently, the defense counsel needs to prove their point every single step of the way.”

I’m grateful that I spoke to Miss Fey before the trial. I only saw that one case of my father’s, so I had no idea what it’s like to be a defense attorney. Asking was the correct move.

Judge looked to von Karma. “Do you have evidence that the letter or the lab report is forged, Mister von Karma? That is a serious accusation to make, and we do not take lightly to fabricated evidence.”

Oh, please, Miles thought. He was caught submitting forged evidence twelve years ago and only got a slap on the wrist. Anyone else would have been disbarred.

Manfred looked for a moment like he had swallowed a lemon as he was forced to back down. Since he didn’t know that Miles had possessed that letter (let alone that Yogi didn’t get rid of it as per instructions), he didn’t have anything prepared to counter it.

“Well?” Judge prompted.

Manfred gritted his teeth. “No, your honor. I…the defense…does not.”

“Then, we will take this as official evidence,” Judge determined.

Miles mentally let out a sigh of relief. If he had any clue about the letter, he would have come prepared with something fake to make it look like someone forged his handwriting.

Hiding the letter had been the proper thing to do; even when he had it analyzed, he had gone through Gumshoe and the man’s trusted CSI team members so that it wouldn’t get leaked to von Karma.

Judge mulled it over. “The evidence is fairly decisive at this moment…”

“Objection,” Manfred seemed to recover his poise. “There is no proof that Yogi actually acted upon the orders of the letter…should the letter be believed.”

Miles resisted a snort. He’s trying to discredit the veracity of the letter while simultaneously claiming that someone else killed Hammond.

So, he raised an objection.

“We are not here to prove whether or not Yogi killed Hammond. That trial will be taking place in a couple of days.”

Judge nodded. “I see no reason not to sustain this objection.”

Manfred tsk’d them. “It makes all the difference. If Yogi did not follow the letter’s instructions and was not the one to kill Hammond, then I cannot be convicted for felony murder since nobody died as a result of the letter.”

Miles had to admit: It was sneaky. But, that was exactly why he had made sure that Phoenix was going to be testifying.

Judge seemed to consider that. “That is true…if Yogi was not the one to kill Hammond, then the felony murder charge goes out the window.”

Miles slammed his hand down on the desk. “Then, perhaps the defense would care to enlighten us as to whom he thinks the murderer actually is.”

Manfred smirked. “Who knows? It could have been anyone at the docks that night.”

“Objection!” Miles shouted. “Had there been anyone else by that area of the pond aside from myself, Yogi, and the law student, they would have been listed as a witness. The body was not in the water long enough to completely obscure the time of death.”

Manfred shrugged. “That is not on me to prove, it’s on the prosecution.”

“It is on you,” Miles retorted. “You suggested that someone else did the deed? Who, then?”

Manfred sighed theatrically. “I did not want to have to do this, but…obviously, it was the law student.”

For a moment, Miles could only stare incredulously at the other. He had to suppress his anger at the man who…

“I’ve heard of the law student in question,” Manfred continued airily. “I believe he was once on trial for murder about a month ago? Seems the sort to actually kill someone…”

“Objection!” Miles slammed his hand on the desk so hard that his palm stung momentarily, not that he paid attention. “That is irrelevant to this case, and the law student was found innocent of that crime and the true culprit was caught and sentenced! The student was framed, and I will not allow you to attempt to taint him with defamation of character!”

Judge banged his gavel. “Order! Ahem…sustained. Mister von Karma, you will refrain from discrediting a man who was found innocent.”

Manfred hardly looked like he had been disciplined, though he did momentarily frown as his plan obviously didn’t work.

“Funny you should mention him, because the prosecution would like to call that very law student as the first witness,” Miles hated to bring Phoenix into the courthouse now, but he didn’t have a choice.

Damn you, von Karma. For once, I’m glad that this country doesn’t have a jury system…though I believe we may desperately need one…because he would be in his element tainting the reputations of witnesses.

Meanwhile, the doors opened and Phoenix walked into the halls with his head held high.

Of course he had heard the proceedings from the prosecution lobby, and the low tactics from von Karma had only served to steel his resolve.

Miles was glad to see that Phoenix’s eyes were clear and determined as the other took the witness stand. “Witness, your name and occupation please.”

“My name is Phoenix Wright, and I’m a law student,” Phoenix stated clearly. He resisted the urge to smile at Miles, so he hoped that the glance he gave him would suffice as support.

He didn’t want von Karma to accuse Miles of witness tampering or anything if he saw how friendly they were.

Miles was relieved that Phoenix didn’t goof around. “To start with, please inform the court as to why you were at Gourd Lake that night.”

Phoenix gave a small nod, though he couldn’t hide his slight grimace since his head was still sensitive. “Of course. I had been investigating a case as a sort of practical study since I’m being mentored. Speaking to Yogi was one of my priorities, but he was extremely difficult to find so I put in a request to the police. The day of the incident, I got a telegram that the police had found him running the boathouse at Gourd Lake so I went to speak with him.”

Miles nodded in an indication that such testimony was enough for now and they would get to the rest later.

Both young men were glad that they went over all of this the previous night with Mia, who agreed to put her name on it and said that Phoenix’s investigation would be viewed as a practical application.

Otherwise, there would be questions as to how and why he received the DL-6 case files since a civilian didn’t have access to the same level of information as the police and lawyers did.

Judge, meanwhile, explained for those present: “This is an unusual situation, but as Mister von Karma is also acting a his own defense, I will allow him to cross-examine the witness if he so chooses.”

“Of course I do.” Manfred gave a courteous nod to the Judge, then turned on Phoenix with a hard look. “You claim you are being mentored by someone? Pray tell who.”

“Objection!” Miles was not going to let von Karma derail this. After all, there was only one contradiction in Phoenix’s testimony, and he had the evidence to correct it. “That is irrelevant to the case.”

“Objection.” Manfred protested. “Anyone can claim that they’re being mentored, but that does not make it true. The witness should prove that he is.”

“Sustained. Witness, please answer the question,” Judge decided.

Phoenix did so. “Mia Fey is my mentor.”

Miles smirked. “You’ll know her as the one to break my guilty verdict streak. The rookie lawyer who is the only one I had never won a case against.”

Excited whispers went up in the gallery.

“I heard about that!”

“I recognized her name from somewhere…so that’s it!”

“She defeated the Demon Prosecutor! Even though she’s a rookie, she's a full fledged lawyer!”

“Her reputation speaks for itself.” Miles bowed. I really hope Miss Fey isn’t trying to glare me to death in those stands…

She wasn’t. Rather, Mia actually had a pleased smile on her face (though she did make sure that nobody attempted to recognize her).

Judge banged his gavel a couple times. “Order!”

“I believe that answers that…unless the defense can prove that the witness is not mentoring under Miss Fey.” Miles said.

It would be simple for him to confirm it, especially since Mia was in the gallery.

However, she had helped him to learn what he hadn’t realized before:

It was up to the defense to provide proof of their claims, not the prosecution.

Should von Karma pursue it, then Miles would just shoot him down is all.

Manfred did not walk into that trap, and withdrew his objection.

Rather, he went after a different part of the testimony. “It is interesting that the witness claims to have gotten a telegram from the police telling him where to find Yanni Yogi as the Missing Persons department claims to have not issued such a thing.”

Phoenix blinked owlishly. “But I did get one…”

Miles nodded. “Indeed, the witness did. However, and the witness did not know this at the time, it was falsified.”

“What?!” Phoenix yelped. “But it had the notary seal on it!”

Miles pulled out the telegram from his briefcase. “Indeed, it did. However, upon looking at it closely, your mentor felt there was something strange about it. Once this became a case, she submitted it as evidence.”

Phoenix glanced up in the gallery where he knew Mia was, confused (and surprised that she didn’t tell him about this).

Mia merely gave him a nod.

Miles had mentioned to Phoenix that it might have been false, but had only said it in passing. The reason being was so that Phoenix would react genuinely to finding this out and the court could see that he had been tricked.

If he walked in here knowing that it’s a fake, he would have tried to hold his composure and that could have hurt the case.

Alright, so Miles still used some sneaky methods…but it was for a good cause this time!

Thankfully, Phoenix didn’t look hurt or angry that Miles hadn’t briefed him on this. He pouted a bit and whined about being tricked again, but didn’t seem to blame Miles nor Mia.

Judge squinted at the evidence provided. “This looks legitimate…”

“At first glance it does. However, as the defense pointed out, no officer recalls authorizing disclosing the whereabouts of Yanni Yogi to a law student,” Miles explained as he pulled another image out of his briefcase and submitted it as well. “This is a copy of the official notary seal used on the police documents. If you look closely, you can see a slight discrepancy between them.”

The screens showed the two side by side, but at first glance they still looked identical. Then, Miles pointed out a slight difference in the pattern on the symbol in the middle and it became obvious.

“Waste of time,” Manfred declared. “Even if it is a fake, the witness could have typed it up himself.”

“Can you provide proof of that?” It was becoming Miles’ favorite line.

Particularly as Manfred’s face twisted in anger that no; he did not have any definitive proof that Phoenix had written himself a letter. “Obviously, I wouldn’t have the fake seal he used on it.”

Miles shrugged. “Then, it goes without saying that there is no evidence that the witness gave himself a fake letter. And another thing, it would be pointless of him to do that seeing as the telegram was a ruse to lure him out to his death…as shown in the letter from earlier.”

“The letter also showed the witness’ fingerprints on it,” Manfred pointed out.

Phoenix gaped as it clicked what was happening. “You think I wrote that letter? That’s your own handwriting! My handwriting is barely legible!”

“You were an art student…”

“Theater arts.” Phoenix huffed.  "And I still wasn't good at it."

Miles interrupted. “As you can see, there is no motive nor evidence that the witness tampered with the letter or wrote the telegram himself. He was the one to retrieve the letter…and did so from Yogi’s shack right in front of me. Since he was concussed at the time, he could hardly be faulted for forgetting to use a handkerchief to hold it.”

“Speculation and hearsay do not hold up in court,” Manfred countered.

Miles slammed his hand on the counter again. “Then prove it. Thus far, you have made a lot of accusations but you have zero evidence to back up your claims.”

And of course, Miles knew the reason for that was because von Karma had been in a holding cell and unable to investigate (or forge evidence for the trial). The old man obviously also hadn’t expected Phoenix to survive and thus did not have a contingency plan for what to do if someone examined the telegram closely.

Most likely, he expected Phoenix to be carrying it. And most likely, Yogi was supposed to dump Phoenix’s bag into the lake with his phone, but hadn’t gotten around to doing so yet. Even if he had dumped the satchel, Phoenix had forgotten to take the telegram with him.

The gavel came down as the Judge declared that if the defense couldn’t prove there was anything wrong with what the witness said or the prosecution’s assertion that the telegram was faked in order to lure Phoenix out to his death (as it was mentioned in the letter), then they would move on with the trial.

Practically grinding his teeth and cursing how helpless the defense counsel was (especially with no opportunity to prepare), Manfred spat out: “Withdrawn.”

Miles resisted the urge to let out a sigh of relief. One hurdle down…we still have the account of what happened that night.

And they hadn’t even gotten to the DL-6 case yet.

Miles then turned to Phoenix. “As there is no issue with your testimony, let’s move on to the events which transpired after you arrived at the boathouse.”

There was still a long way to go, but due to von Karma not being used to having to be on the defense and adhering to the rules of the defense, as well as that Miles had gone in as prepared as humanly possible for the case (even conferring with a defense attorney to do so), he was determined to get that guilty verdict.

Not for any record, but to remove a dangerous man from the streets.

“Right.” Phoenix was prepared for the next part. “Well, I got to the boathouse and Yogi was out back stacking firewood. He was acting a bit loopy and not ‘all there’, so I figured it would be a dead end and turned to leave. Then, I heard a noise and turned back around just in time to see him swing a piece of the wood at me before I got knocked out.

“When I came-to, I was tied up in his closet. He kept muttering things about stashing a body, and…uh, dumping me in the woods. I think he thought I was dead. He also was talking to his parrot, Polly, about some letter he got and that he was following the instructions from it.”

There was the escape, of course, but this was the important part for this particular trial.

Phoenix would probably have to repeat himself as a witness in Yogi’s trial since he had come to the startling realization that it was the gun shot which had killed Hammond which he had heard from that closet.

“Thank you,” Miles started, when Phoenix suddenly yelped.

“That’s right! Polly! Someone’s taking care of the parrot, right? He ran off and left the macaw behind!” Phoenix exclaimed.

In the gallery, Mia palmed her face.

Miles coughed into his hand in order to hide the incredulous laugh which had attempted to bubble out of him. “Detective Gumshoe is taking care of the bird.” I should expect his randomness by now…

“Whew.” Phoenix let out a breath of relief.

The judge cleared his throat to get the trial back on track. “V-very well. Mister von Karma, you are free to cross-examine the witness.”

But please stay on track this time instead of trying to resort to witness slandering.

It went unspoken, though Miles doubted that von Karma could slander someone who interrupted their own testimony out of concern for a parrot.

“You said he was ‘acting loopy’. That’s an odd way to describe someone’s actions. Was he being aggressive towards you and you remained?”

Phoenix shook his head, then grimaced as he had forgotten the injury. “No.” Where’s he going with this? “I mean, he was acting, well…like my grandpa did when he first started showing signs of dementia. I’d heard from the case file that Yogi suffered brain damage, and figured that was what occurred. I didn’t feel right pressing him, so I turned to leave.”

“And you’re claiming that such a feeble old man was able to knock you out?” Manfred smirked at him.

“Objection!” Miles called. “What the witness described was Yogi’s mental state, not his physical one. He also later revealed that the entire thing was an act.”

Phoenix nodded along. “That’s right! One of the things he was complaining about to Polly was that Hammond had ‘made him act stupid’ to get a ‘not guilty’ verdict twelve years ago and it ruined his life! He was talking just fine then!”

“Are you sure that wasn’t your head injury conjuring up hallucinations? People tend to…remember things incorrectly and make simple mistakes when they take blows to the head.” Manfred had a victorious grin on his face.

Miles objected again. Insufferable old goat is trying to call doubt on Phoenix’s testimony due to the injury. “What the witness claimed to overhear is the same thing written in the letter.”

“Objection. He could have read the letter when he found it.”

“Objection!” Miles was not going to let that one go. “If he had a ‘significant head injury’ to the point where he could have been hallucinating, as you claim, then he would not have been able to read the letter in his state! Thus, your entire argument is null and void!”

Manfred’s expression darkened considerably.

Phoenix had glanced between them nervously, then cleared his throat. “Uh, would like to just point out that I had a throbbing headache and dizziness, but knew very well what was going on.”

“He wouldn’t have been able to free himself from the ropes holding him if not,” Miles pointed out. “He had the mental facilities to think to use one of the old nails sticking out of the wall of the closet to saw the rope off…and he has the chafing and abrasions to prove it.”

With a glance from Miles, Phoenix rolled down his sleeves to reveal the plasters on the worst of the cuts, and the chafing which was still very much visible on his wrists. It didn’t require bandages anymore, and also showed signs of bruising.

Murmurs went up from the gallery.

Judge banged the gavel. “Order! It appears as if the assessment of the witness’ mental and physical state has been proven that he was able to overhear and make decisions regarding the situation.”

Manfred gritted his teeth with another death glare at Miles.

Miles, meanwhile, stoically remained as he was. In the past, he would have done a mocking bow for infuriating the defense…but even though this was von Karma, the man possibly responsible for single-handedly ruining his life, he couldn’t bring himself to sink to the man’s level.

Especially in front of Phoenix.

Manfred wasn’t about to go down without a fight, and once again attempted to point to Yogi’s supposed fragility. “Yet you expect us to believe that a man in his fifties was able to knock you out with a piece of firewood?”

“They weren’t very large pieces. When I first saw him out back, he had about three of them in his arms that he added to the pile,” Phoenix answered.

Miles interrupted, eyes on von Karma. “Unless, of course, you can prove that Yogi could not have swung a piece of firewood. We aren’t talking about giant logs, we’re speaking of chopped firewood.”

Judge also nodded. He didn’t look too happy that all signs were pointing to von Karma’s guilt, and was having trouble keeping up with the two lawyers, but had to award the point in Miles’ favor.

“And afterwards?” Manfred challenged.

“Irrelevant to this trial,” Miles responded.

Manfred turned his stony gaze to the Judge. “I feel the witness should testify what happened after he got free of his bonds.”

Judge looked at him. “Do you feel that such a thing will bring new information to light?”

At Manfred’s pause, Miles butted in.

“What happened afterwards was simply the witness saving me from getting on a boat with Yogi and then Yogi’s escape. There’s nothing to tell, and it has no bearing what-so-ever on the case. I’d like to remind the defense that he is not the prosecution.”

If Phoenix thought glares could kill the day he ran into von Karma in the courthouse, the one von Karma was giving Miles promised ruin and then a painful death.

Miles was correct; the prosecution was rarely questioned when they wanted to explore further testimony (though typically they didn’t want more testimony unless it was more evidence against the defendant), but the defense counsel was.

It was another thing Mia had told him about, and again, Miles used it as a weapon at each and every turn; just four little words:

“Can you prove it?”

Honestly, with the way their system worked, the defense counsel would have to prove that one plus one equaled two.

“No.” Manfred finally admitted when the Judge posed his question again, particularly in light of what Miles had said.

It was doubtful that the Judge would hold von Karma in contempt of court, but if he pressed an issue which turned out to be useless, just in his attempt to put question and doubt on Phoenix’s mental state at the time, he could still get another mark on his record.

At this point, and it was something Miles was counting on, Manfred would rather be sent to prison than take himself down on his way out.

The gallery was whispering to one another again since it was fairly decisive that von Karma was guilty of felony murder.

Judge banged the gavel to bring order to the court. “Just to make sure of what the prosecution claims…this entire situation was a result of a twelve year old case, which went unsolved?”

Miles crossed his arms to keep his hands from shaking visibly and nodded. He caught an encouraging look from Phoenix, and managed to keep his face schooled. “Yes. It was that case which the witness was looking into, and was what put him in the crosshairs of the double homicide plot between the defendant and Yogi.”

Judge nodded. “Very well. Unless something new comes into light, I believe I have my ruling for the felony murder charge…”

But they wouldn’t hear that until the end since that was when the judge always gave out a ruling.

“…so for now, we will take a twenty-minute recess and then return to discuss the other murder charge.”

Miles was eternally grateful they didn’t have to call Yogi to the stand, and that Phoenix had been able to hold things down in terms of being a witness (plus the evidence letter) because he really didn’t want to have to deal with an old man pretending to be a bumbling old fool when he knew the guy was anything but.

The gavel came down to signify the recess just as Miles heard Phoenix groan:

“Oh, crud…I’m going to be a witness again, aren’t I…”

Miles had to admit: Phoenix’s exaggerated pout, and the realization that the other man was going to be joining him in the prosecution lobby to “prep” for being a witness, was a comfort to him.

Only Phoenix.

Chapter Text

“How are you holding up?” Phoenix asked in concern as Miles sat on one of the couches in the prosecution lobby looking at some documents.

Although it merely looked like he was further preparing, Phoenix could see the creases in Miles’ brows and that the other man’s shoulders were slightly hunched forward.

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out and set the papers down in his briefcase again as he looked up. “I should be asking you that. I’m not the one with a recent head injury.”

“Oh. I just took some more pain killers for it.” Phoenix admitted as he sat down next to his friend. “It’s really not nearly as bad as it was yesterday. Though, it also wasn’t terrible yesterday. Actually, the only reason I took anything was because I have to testify again and I don’t want a headache to distract me.”

“Phoenix. If you aren’t feeling well then say something and the trial can be put on hold. In the least, a recess can be called.”

Phoenix frowned. “No way. It’s important we get through this. Besides…I don’t think I want another ‘emergency recess’ called. And we don’t need one, anyway. We have everything we need.”

Miles thought to the metal detector currently hidden behind the prosecution bench and sighed. “Yea…”

“But seriously, how are you doing?” Phoenix realized that Miles had never answered his question.

Miles shrugged. “Good as I can be, I suppose…” …considering that I’m up against a sociopath who shot and killed my father, that is.

“That bad, huh?”

“I didn’t say that…”

Phoenix held up his hand, palm out.

Miles stared at him blankly.

“Here…my therapist said that a sure-fire way to tell how someone is feeling is by touching palms.” Phoenix took Miles’ wrist and pressed his palm against his own.

Miles jolted. “What in the…!?”

“Your hand’s cold, which means you’re nervous.”

“…yours isn’t.” Miles admitted quietly.

“Yup. Because I know that we’re gonna win this. We’re gonna put that psycho behind bars where he good and belongs!”

Miles stared at their hands. I wish I had his optimism. I have to gamble on the bullet being in von Karma’s shoulder and put on a show for the court. The judge will probably force him to submit to the test, but…

Come to think of it, if von Karma had been innocent, wouldn’t he have submitted to the test in the detention center?

Innocent people have nothing to hide.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Just steeling my resolve.” Miles admitted. “Though, I’m supposed to be preparing you for the witness stand…”

“Pssh. We’ve got the case file and the one piece of evidence we truly need with us…plus the key evidence in von Karma’s shoulder.”

“I still can’t believe your theory turned out to be right.” Miles mumbled.

Phoenix curled his fingers around Miles’. “You don’t still think you did it, do you?”

“As loathe as I am to admit it, your argument is very compelling.”

“Why are you so determined to take the blame? You’re innocent, Miles.”

Miles took a deep breath, then let it out. Why, indeed…because my hands are stained. Because I became as cruel as von Karma…

“Nearly. And yes, you said that all aloud. You nearly became that cruel. But you turned it all around. Even if you can’t forgive yourself yet, remember that I forgive you.”

Miles grasped Phoenix’s hand as he drew strength from the man’s certainty. “It…might be some time before I can forgive myself.”

“Then I’ll remind you each time. And there’s no need to blame yourself for a crime you didn’t commit to punish yourself, either. From what I’ve seen and experienced, our justice system is a bit messed up…”

A “bit”?

“…but let the court decide,” Phoenix stated firmly. “So, when we go back in there…or, you will while I wait out here to be called on again…(feels like school)…”

Miles couldn’t help the little grin at Phoenix’s muttered joke.

“…you’ll start with the letter and connect it to the DL-6 case, then bring me in and I’ll go over what I found. Then the old toad will try to rip my reputation and testimony to pieces, but let’s face it…he sucks as a defense counsel.”

Miles had noticed that, too. “It’s probably the only reason we’re winning.”

“Nah. The truth is winning. Well, okay…maybe a little. You should’ve seen Mia in the gallery. I caught glimpses of her face during some of it, and she had this ‘cat who caught the canary’ grin on her face a few times.”

Miles chortled. “You make it sound like she’s rooting for me…”

“She is. If she didn’t believe my crackpot theory and didn’t want to help, she would have refused our little strategy meeting.”

Miles considered that. “I owe her a great gratitude. And I have newfound respect for what my father had to do. Being a defense counsel in this system sounds like the worst.”

“Not the worst-worst, but it does suck.”

“Yet you’re still going to do it? We might cross paths, you know…opposite sides of the benches…”

“That’d be fun, though!” Phoenix declared. “A battle of wits against you? Sounds like a good challenge! Or even better! If we can somehow work together to unearth the truth!”

“Even if your client turns out to be guilty?”

Phoenix shrugged. “That’s a problem for future-Phoenix.”

A snort of a laugh was the response. Perhaps he’s onto something there. Maybe that’s what it’ll take to try and fix this system: if the prosecution and the defense works together to unearth the truth.

Of course, they’d still be expected to do their darndest to perform their jobs as prosecution and defense counsels…

“Good.”

“Huh?” Miles blinked, torn from his thoughts.

Phoenix beamed at him. “Your hand isn’t cold anymore.”

Miles had honestly forgotten that they were still holding hands, and quickly let go as a blush rose to his cheeks. Why in the world am I getting flustered!?

Phoenix merely chuckled, though he also wouldn’t admit that he had forgotten they were holding hands because it had just felt so natural.

Perhaps he would come back to explore that thought after the trial was over.

The gavel came down, which meant that court was in session again.

“Moving along,” Judge said, “A concern was raised regarding the letter which prompted Yanni Yogi to murder Robert Hammond was connected to an unusual case from twelve years ago where the true culprit has yet to be named. Is that correct, prosecution?”

“It is, your honor.” Miles managed to keep his voice and countenance cool even though he was a bundle of nerves inside. After all, he was going to have to draw up memories and revisit the worst nightmare in his entire life.

Manfred, meanwhile, scoffed. “There are only two possibilities of that case, and if the bailiff didn’t do it then…”

“Objection!” Miles glared. “If the defense will remember its position and not speak out of turn, please.”

Judge nodded as he tapped his gavel. “Yes, indeed. Mister von Karma, need I remind you that you are still acting as the defense for yourself. As this is a new charge, the prosecution will now draw its connections to the old case.”

Manfred fumed, but backed down lest he be held in contempt.

Miles gave a respectful bow to the Judge, then took out the sheet of paper which he really didn’t need to read from since the entire thing was regretfully ingrained in his memory.

“The letter, obviously to Yanni Yogi, mentions ‘revenge for ruining your life twelve years ago’. As it so happens, Yanni Yogi was the bailiff accused of murdering Gregory Edgeworth in an elevator.”

Whew…got it out. Just try to stay clinical about it.

“My word!” Judge was often slow on the uptake, but at least recognized the name. “Is that your relation?”

Miles nodded. “Gregory Edgeworth was my father. I, too, was in the elevator that day with him…and the bailiff, Yanni Yogi.”

Whispers went up in the gallery since a situation like this was almost unheard of.

It wasn’t like Miles could take the stand since he was the prosecution…

“I will give a summary of what happened,” Miles wished he could present the transcripts from the DL-6 trial, but it was honestly not very helpful.

The “witness testimony” was from a dead man (supposedly), and Yogi’s testimony had been garbled nonsense. As he was a child at the time, he had provided a written statement of what he had recalled…but when they had asked him at the time, his memory was fuzzy when the argument started.

Now that he remembered it clearly in part to the nightmares, he could amend that.

“On December 28^th of 2001, there was a trial in which Gregory Edgeworth was defending against prosecutor Manfred von Karma,” Miles read off the paper.

He knew it all by memory now, but he was worried that he might stumble due to emotion.

“After the trial ended, Gregory Edgeworth, myself, and the bailiff Yanni Yogi all boarded the elevator. An earthquake caused the power to go out and the elevator to stop working, and we were all in there for hours…long enough for oxygen to start running low.”

Miles had to focus on the pause for breathing to remind himself that he could breathe and that he wasn’t stuck in an elevator while slowly suffocating. I’m in a wide open courtroom. It’s fine.

Still, he was glad that nobody else could see that he wiped his other (sweaty) hand on his pants before he continued once he was sure he had enough breath to do so with.

Miles looked to the Judge. “At this point, I’d like to add my testimony briefly to the court.”

Judge nodded. “Yes…we received the note and added it to the court record.”

Miles summarized it:

“A fight broke out when Yogi panicked and attacked Gregory. I didn’t wish to see my father hurt, so I picked up the bailiff’s fallen gun and threw it at him. I then heard the gun go off and a horrible scream before the lack of oxygen caused me to pass out.”

Manfred cleared his throat when Miles set down the paper. “I would like to assert the defense’s right to cross-examine.”

“I am not on the witness stand.” Miles objected.

Manfred smirked. “I still have the right to examine the evidence and question it now that it has been presented in court. Although that said, hearsay is hardly evidence.”

Miles narrowed his eyes. “I feel a first hand account of the events which transpired is certainly more than ‘hearsay’.”

“If they can be relied upon,” Manfred argued.

Judge banged the gavel. “I will allow the defense to question anything he may find strange about the newly submitted evidence, but to keep in mind that Miles Edgeworth is not on the witness stand and that this is not a cross-examination.”

Manfred smirked.

Miles inwardly cursed.

“Thank you, your honor.” Manfred simped to the judge, then rounded on Miles with a predatory smile. “The scenario you painted is that there were three people in that elevator. And that when the doors opened and rescue team arrived, one of them was dead. The bailiff was eventually suspected, but was acquitted…and now, a new possibility is that you killed him.”

Gasps went up from the gallery.

Miles clenched his hand into a fist on the desk. I didn’t. It was you…

“I mean, look at the statement.” Manfred pointed out airily. “He threw the gun, which went off. The logical conclusion is that the gun discharged and in an unfortunate accident, killed Gregory Edgeworth. But although unfortunate, he still murdered his own father.”

“O-objection!” Miles managed to get out in a strangled tone at first. “The prosecution has a different explanation due to the investigation into the case by a law student!”

Manfred laughed coldly. “And this courtroom is expected to believe that some green law student was able to ‘solve’ a case which this district’s own detectives couldn’t? I believe this is merely a tactic by the prosecution to cover his own bloody tracks.”

Miles reeled back a bit as von Karma pointed at him with a nasty grin.

“I feel it’s obvious that Miles Edgeworth killed his own father in that elevator that day and is using the excuse of an investigating law student in order to pin the crime on someone completely unrelated.”

Miles gritted his teeth. “Objection! Explain, then, why you wrote that letter to Yogi!”

Manfred chuckled. “I merely knew of the situation and felt for his plight. It does not mean that I have any ties to the DL-6 case. And I find it rather telling of the Demon Prosecutor to attempt to accuse an innocent man for his own crime.”

Miles swallowed around a lump in his throat. Is…is he right? Is Phoenix wrong? I mean, his deduction rests on a piece of evidence which might not even be there!

Manfred tapped his cane on the floor. “What a show, this has turned into. I heard recently that you even sent an innocent man to prison for an unrelated case. Now you’re trying to do it again for a mere ‘guilty’ verdict. Your reputation speaks all…you killed your own father in that elevator that day!”

The gallery practically exploded in people talking to each other all at once, and even the Judge was shocked.

Miles was amazed he was still standing, because his legs trembled under him and he even stumbled back a step as if he was physically struck while his pallor turned nearly ashen.

He has to be right. Put like that…how could the timing have been just right for him to be outside the elevator when I threw the gun? For the doors to open and him to shoot my father before anyone else knew…and then leave the crime scene without question?

It was sweltering in the courtroom, and Miles was glad that he hadn’t been able to eat anything during the recess because he felt nauseated.

He had built up a bad reputation, and now it was being used against him; even the case with Fred Herring reared its ugly head to further incriminate him.

Yes, von Karma was still getting a guilty verdict for felony murder, but it was looking like he would only get that; and it would be far lighter sentence than second degree manslaughter.

Manfred laughed. “You see? He’s speechless because he knows that it’s true! The Demon Prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth, is a cold and calculating man who will even put the innocent behind bars! And now, he’s using me as his scapegoat so that he doesn’t have to take the blame for murdering his own father…!”

Miles wondered if he was even still breathing, his thoughts spiraling and once again starting to question everything he had learned over the past couple days of Phoenix’s investigation, when there was a loud “SLAM” and two voices which shouted at the same time:

“OBJECTION!!”

The entire court quieted and didn’t quite know where to look.

At the doors, Phoenix had slammed them open and had a look of righteous anger on his face. “You haven’t even heard my…the witness…testimony on it and you’re trying to determine facts from a statement! And…”

The reason he trailed off was because of the other person who had objected and was currently marching down the gallery as people scooted to part way.

The only time Phoenix had seen Mia that angry was against Dahlia during his own trial. Even during Dahlia’s trial, she hadn’t looked this completely pissed off, and it silenced him completely.

Mia was not going to hear anymore of this garbage. She didn’t know what she really thought of Miles Edgeworth, but the young man she had encountered over the past week was a very different one from the prosecutor she had faced in Phoenix’s trial.

And when she saw von Karma go after him like a shark to blood, in a way which set off alarm bells in her head and reminded her that oh, Phoenix had told her that he suspected von Karma had abused Miles…

…when she remembered how small and vulnerable he had looked in the hospital while waiting for Phoenix to wake up…

…how much he blamed himself for what happened and by his own words claimed to be a monster…

…who had still shown honest to goodness concern for Phoenix and listened carefully to what she told him when he stammered…he had stammered…through asking her about how the defense worked for this trial…

Something in her had snapped. And, like with Phoenix, an odd protective side flared up.

“You may be representing yourself as the defense,” Mia said coldly as she walked purposefully down the rows of the gallery like she was walking down a flight of stairs, without breaking eye contact with a surprised von Karma.

“…but all you’re able to do is try to smear the reputation of whomever you’re up against because you have no legitimate argument to actually present,” Mia continued.

Miles looked at her with wide eyes, and Phoenix also just sort of stood there rooted to the spot by the doorway with his jaw slack.

“You were the one who even adopted him after his father was murdered,” Mia continued to berate von Karma. “You, who already had a daughter and never showed any interest in adopting anyone, suddenly agreed to take the child of the defense attorney who managed to prove that you used fabricated evidence in court that very same day and put a black mark on your record.”

Now von Karma looked livid, though the gallery was far too shocked to even whisper amongst themselves at this news.

The Judge was gobsmacked and unsure as to what was even happening, though he was reminded of a mother going after someone who dared to attack her own children.

It was honestly awe-inspiring.

Mia easily climbed down from the gallery and strode right past a shocked Miles at the prosecution table to stand directly across from von Karma with eyes blazing. “And, if you really want to talk about dirty records, what about being caught for that fabricated evidence you presented?

“You’ve been doing this for nearly forty years…how many innocent people have you put in jail or sentenced to death for the sake of your own ‘perfect record? I’m sure more than just the one person you accuse Edgeworth of putting away…and from what I heard, he recently got that man exonerated. Have you even gone over any of your old cases to make sure you never sent an innocent person to prison or death?”

Before von Karma could even attempt to respond, Mia slammed her hand down on the desk in front of him.

“And if we’re continuing to talk about reputations, you’re far more a ‘demon prosecutor’ than Edgeworth. Not to mention you seem to have forgotten that you just admitted to sending that letter, meaning that you are guilty of not only conspiracy but also of felony murder.

“And then you dare to claim that a child managed to shoot his own father in a darkened elevator, without any proof to back up that claim? You say he did it? Where is your proof, defense?”

For a moment, even von Karma was even too surprised to even move (that, or affronted that someone dared to tell him off).

Miles felt a bit dizzy, unsure of how to process everything which was happening in front of him.

Phoenix had yet to pick his jaw up off the ground.

Finally, Manfred slowly turned to look at the judge. “Your Honor. Are you going to just allow this interruption in your courtroom?”

“O-oh! Right!” Judge shook himself from his stupor. “Miss Fey! Although you have a point…”

A glower from von Karma.

Judge hurriedly continued: “I cannot allow such behavior in my courtroom. So I must ask you to leave.”

Phoenix sputtered. “Wh-what? But it’s only her first outburst! Isn’t there a warning system?!”

Judge banged his gavel, though he had to give the man at the door credit. “Very well. Please return to your seat, Miss Fey. But if you have another outburst, I will have you removed from my courtroom!”

Mia never broke eye contact with von Karma, anger boring holes into him, even as she nodded in agreement with the judge’s order. “I understand, your honor.”

Finally, she pulled away and headed back towards the gallery, though not before pausing by Miles to give him a solid pat on the shoulder on her way up. “The rest is up to you.”

It was only loud enough for Miles to hear, but the hand to his shoulder had grounded him from the near panicked state he was in and the whispered words sent a feeling of warmth from his gut instead of nausea.

By the time Mia was seated again (as the rest of the court was still completely silent), Miles was a little more composed.

“Yes…the prosecution would also like to state that if the defense is going to make wild claims, he needs to back it up with actual evidence,” Miles stated firmly. “If he cannot, then I might as well call my first witness to the stand seeing as he is already in the room.”

Judge looked to von Karma. “Can you prove that it was Miles Edgeworth who shot Gregory Edgeworth?”

Manfred gritted his teeth with a hissed: “No, your Honor.”

Judge nodded and tapped his gavel. “Then, let’s hear from our witness.”

Miles looked to Phoenix and nodded.

Phoenix managed to kick himself back in gear as he sheepishly closed the doors behind him and headed to the stand…though not without a grin he couldn’t hide due to the sudden glee he felt. Mia defended Miles!

“Although we already went through this earlier, please re-state your name and occupation for the court,” Miles instructed. And please wipe that dopey smile off your face.

Phoenix nodded. “Phoenix Wright! I’m a law student!”

“As Your Honor has been notified, this witness’ ‘testimony’ is the results of an investigation he did into the DL-6 case which was the entire reason he was looking into Yogi.” Miles said to the judge.

Judge acknowledged that. “Yes…I had been informed. It isn’t completely usual for another lawyer, officer, or medical employee to give something of a presentation for their witness testimony, but the necessary paperwork was filed.”

At hearing that, von Karma looked like he had swallowed a lemon…

…or, perhaps, he was still seething over being lectured by someone whom he felt was beneath him in defense of the son of the man he loathed.

Miles looked back to Phoenix. “You may begin when ready.”

Phoenix bobbed his head and reached down to grab the satchel (which he had to double back for when he was called to the witness stand; that action had doubled as a much needed tension breaker).

“Okay!” Phoenix opened it up and pulled out a folder stuffed with colored tabs marking various points. “I started exploring a theory I had after calculating trajectories and all, and came to the conclusion that there was a fourth person present on the scene.”

Judge blinked owlishly. “A fourth…?”

Miles crossed his arms. “Perhaps you should start from the beginning, Mister Wright.”

“Oops. Right! So…first, I’ve got this diagram here of the elevator. Doors are here on the southern side, marked with the short vertical lines…”

Said image was projected for the judge and gallery to view.

“…From testimony, it can be determined that the victim, Gregory Edgeworth, was around here at the time of the shot which had actually pierced his heart.” Phoenix marked the southeastern corner with a “v” in a circle. “Yanni Yogi the bailiff, whom he had been fighting with, was collapsed next to him here.”

He marked that circle with a “b”.

“And, Miles Edgeworth was around here.” He marked a “m” in a circle in the northern area, closer to the eastern side than the western one.

“But that was until the power was restored and the elevator doors opened. Up until then, all three people in the elevator were very much alive.” Phoenix then made a circle at the elevator doors in the southern end and labeled it as “k” for “killer”.

Whispers went up in the gallery from surprise at that revelation.

Manfred was having none of it. “Objection. This is clearly faulty testimony!”

Miles, who had regained his composure, shook his head. “The defense need to remember to hold all cross examination until the end of the witness testimony.”

Manfred snarled. “This court is expected to believe that everyone in that elevator was alive? Lest we forget that Miles Edgeworth threw a gun which discharged!”

Judge slammed his gavel down. “Order! Please do not speak out of turn…although, it’s a good point…”

Grow a spine, Judge!

Miles kept his arms crossed to hide the slight tremor in his hands. “I believe the witness has an explanation for that…”

“I do!” Phoenix smiled, then indicated to the circles “v” and “b”. “At the time the gun was thrown, these two were facing each other…and thus they were facing the northern and southern ends of the elevator respectfully. When the gun was thrown, it did indeed go off…but it didn’t hit anyone in the elevator.”

Manfred looked about ready to object, but got a warning look from the Judge.

Phoenix then opened the folder again and pulled out a photograph with a mental apology to Miles. “I’d like to defer to this photo of the crime scene.”

Miles cringed and averted his eyes after a moment since it showed his father slumped against the elevator wall in the corner.

“Specifically, I’d like to draw attention to the hole in the elevator wall here,” Phoenix pointed out the spot. “Which is, in fact, a bullet hole. This hole wasn’t present beforehand or the ones inside the elevator wouldn’t have run out of oxygen. It was caused by the gun discharging.

“Something to note is that the bailiff’s gun was fired twice. It’s noted in the case files of that, too. One bullet hit and went through the elevator wall, and the other was used to kill Gregory Edgeworth.”

Judge’s eyes widened as he looked at it. “Yes…I believe that fact puzzled detectives during the case, from the notes I have received.”

“Plus,” Phoenix added, “You can clearly see that it’s on a different wall than the one the victim is slumped against. And even if they had been standing, the bullet did not pass through the victim.”

Manfred drummed his fingers on the desk. “We’re expected to believe that a wanna-be law student solved what they could not? How can the witness be so sure that the bullet fired when Miles Edgeworth threw the gun isn’t the one which killed his father?”

Phoenix brought back the diagram of the elevator. “Because it’s physically impossible. As both men had their sides to Miles, there was no way possible for the bullet to hit Gregory Edgeworth without going through Yogi.”

To help, he drew a line from the “m” to the two other circles. “If they were perpendicular to him as his testimony asserts, the bullet could not have hit the left side of the victim.”

“Recollection is merely hearsay and…”

Phoenix interrupted von Karma. “Science isn't hearsay. See, even if the victim was facing the northern end of the elevator, the bullet would have had to go through Yogi who was grappling with the victim at the time. But there is another place the bullet could have gone.”

That done, he marked an “x” on one of the elevator doors in the diagram. “This is where it went. So as you can see, the first bullet, the one Miles recalls hearing when the gun went off, was the one which pierced through the elevator door. Shortly after that, everyone in the elevator passed out due to a lack of oxygen.”

Manfred snarled. “How convenient. What’s to say that Yogi did not pick the gun up when it landed near him?”

Phoenix gave him an odd look.

Manfred smirked. “Too intellectual a question for your puny student brain to handle?”

Miles was about to call an objection, but Phoenix answered:

“How did you know where the gun landed?”

Silence fell over the courtroom.

Then, Phoenix continued: “If it landed near Yogi, that would put the gun…right by the elevator doors. I think that is far more convenient for the actual killer, wouldn’t you say so?”

Even Miles was stunned at how von Karma walked into that trap…which the man quickly tried to backpedal.

“It was merely an assumption.” Manfred quickly regained his regal air. “After all, even an idiot would know that the gun would have wound up around there when it was thrown at Yogi.”

Judge looked at him. “Really?”

The entire courthouse was pretty sure that the only one who didn’t realize it was the Judge, though most of them also hadn’t quite put things together as quickly.

“Yes,” Manfred answered.

Miles slammed his hand on his desk. “That was still the perfect opportunity for you, wasn’t it. The power came back on not too long afterwards, and you were there. So you picked up the gun with the intention to kill.”

“Objection,” Manfred scoffed. “Your accusations are nothing but assumption! Even the witness’ ‘deductions’ are nothing more than a crazy tinfoil hat theory! You still have no proof I was even there! If there had been another shooter, it could have been anyone who was still in that courthouse!”

“Objection!” Miles countered. “As it so happens, there is something which proves you were there…something which would have been revealed had you not refused to submit to test for when you were in the detention center! A decisive piece of evidence which was never found at the crime scene because it had been carried away by the killer!”

Manfred clutched his cane tightly in his right hand for a moment.

Phoenix’s eyes zeroed in on the tell. That’s it! That’s the same movement he did before, but he even started to move his other hand towards his shoulder!

“If you recall,” Miles pushed down his nerves as best as possible as he spoke, “the second bullet was never found. That’s because it left the courthouse not just carried by the killer as I previously stated, but in the body of the killer.”

Gasps went up from the gallery.

“Are you suggesting…?!” Judge gaped.

Miles nodded and pulled out the metal detector. “I just so happen to have a metal detector I had borrowed from Detective Gumshoe here with me…”

Now von Karma was holding his right shoulder with his left hand, and no longer had a look of victory on his face but a look of both anger and trepidation.

“…and I would like to, in this courtroom here and now, have Manfred von Karma submit to the test,” Miles stated.

“I object!” Manfred snarled. “It’s foolish! And this is all based on the faulty deductions of a law student! This is hardly the time or place to entertain his fantasies!”

Phoenix leaned against his palms on the witness stand. “Then you’ll have no issues letting Prosecutor Edgeworth use that device. I mean, if you’re innocent then you’ve got nothing to hide!”

Miles had to give it to Phoenix for his determination. Practicing his presentation with Mia most likely helped with that as well.

Judge nodded and looked to von Karma. “I allow the use of the metal detector. The witness is correct…if you are innocent, then there is no issue.”

Miles moved from behind the prosecution desk and turned it on despite the slight sweaty nature of his hands. He could practically hear his heart in his ears as he raised it to point at von Karma’s right upper torso.

This is it. All of it…has come down to this. If this fails miserably, I’ll be a disgrace and he’ll go free due to a lack of evidence. Phoenix…

Phoenix, meanwhile, clutched onto the witness stand tightly enough to turn his knuckles white. I’m confident I’m not wrong! I am! I…I have some doubts, but…it has to be right! There’s no other explanation! This is the only logical deduction! Please…please be right!

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, they heard it.

BEEP.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Miles wasn’t sure if there was a look of relief or surprise on his face, but he quickly schooled his expression.

Phoenix wasn’t as used to doing so, and had the biggest victorious grin on his face as the metal detector went off.

Once again, there was chatter from the gallery and it took the stunned judge a moment before he got his wits about him again to bang the gavel. “Order! It…it’s reacting! Mister von Karma! Explain!”

Miles had lowered, and turned off, the metal detector and gone back to the prosecution desk by then almost in a daze. Phoenix was right. The bullet is in there. It was von Karma who really did kill my father…

“It…it’s…!” Manfred stammered, then stood up straight. “Yes, I have a bullet in my shoulder, but it’s from an old case! It’s an older wound with nothing to do with the DL-6 case!”

Miles brought himself back down to earth. Oh, not a chance. You’re not getting away. There’s no talking yourself out of this. “Objection! I have here a piece of evidence from the DL-6 case…specifically, the bullet extracted from the victim.”

If possible, von Karma paled even further. “H-how?!”

“How did I obtain it when the evidence locker was suspiciously emptied the night Hammond was killed, you mean?” Miles all but slammed his hand, bag and all, down on the desk. “I happen to be lucky enough to have someone on my side with quite a lot of foresight and intuition. That’s how.”

Up in the gallery, Mia smirked victoriously.

“If we extract the bullet from your shoulder and test the ballistics, it should perfectly match up with this bullet right here!” Miles declared.

Phoenix nodded along. Get him, Miles! This is all you, now! Get justice for your father and close the chapter on your own guilt over what happened in that elevator!

At first, it looked like von Karma might try to argue it even though he was sweating buckets. Then, he let out a dinosaur-like scream of rage.

Miles’ eyes widened when he heard it, and for a moment, he recalled the very end of his nightmare/memory… “That…that scream! That’s the one that’s been haunting my nightmares for the past twelve years!”

The court was in an uproar, and it took quite a few times of Judge banging his gavel to get them all to settle down.

Miles still felt shaken, and was exhausted as if he had run a marathon, but at the same time he felt a sense of peace and was able to stand up a little bight straighter. I didn’t kill my father. It was this monster. Everything Phoenix said…all his deductions in the end…were correct.

As von Karma spewed out the truth, confirming that the bullet had hit him and he had killed Gregory Edgeworth in an act of revenge for messing up his record…then went on to adopt Miles all to take revenge on him as well for his father’s sake…

That Phoenix had been correct and everyone in the elevator at the time was alive when those doors opened…

Miles felt his self-anger turn onto von Karma, though it soon turned to horror as the entire tale was revealed; as the entire revenge plot unfurled and…I was merely used as this sociopath’s pawn!

He had been spared from an orphanage and turned into the Demon Prosecutor to spite Gregory Edgeworth.

The ultimate plan for Miles was to eventually ruin him when von Karma was good and ready…though he stepped up the game after Miles’ loss in court.

It gave Miles a little sense of relief that Phoenix looked like he wanted to deck von Karma even as the Judge had to bang the gavel again since the confession caused another surge of shocked voices from the gallery.

“Well, then. I believe that is enough.” Judge stated. “I will make my ruling!”

No protests or objections went up; why would they?

“I find the defendant, Manfred von Karma, guilty of all charges!”

BAM!

The gavel came down; the trial was over.

Miles stared, disbelieving at what they had done abdwhat they had proven...until he was brought back to his senses when a warm body collided (gently) with his.

“You did it!” Phoenix cheered as he hugged the other man happily. “You put your father’s real killer away! See? It wasn’t you!”

Miles swallowed past the lump of emotion in his throat. “I did it? No. It’s…it’s all thanks to you, Phoenix. And…and Miss Fey…”

“We all did it, then!” Phoenix pulled back and beamed at him. Then, he quieted down a little (as the rest of the courtroom started to trickle out). “You’re free, Miles. See?”

Miles laughed wetly. “You’re crying.”

Phoenix shrugged around the wetness on his cheeks. “Happy tears.”

Mia got down to them about then. “Pot calling the kettle black on that one, Edgeworth.”

Miles made a noise of protest, then reached up to his face and was shocked when he realized that, yes, he was also crying.

Phoenix pulled him into a hug again, and let Miles hide his face in his shoulder since the other muttered about it being embarrassing.

“Perhaps we should move this to the lobby…” Mia suggested with a fond smile as she watched the two young men. “And have an after party.”

Phoenix was all for that until Mia reminded him that he still was supposed to technically be taking it easy due to his injury, and thus it would have to be a light party, which made him pout.

Miles, meanwhile, just soaked up the warmth around him and even managed to smile, though nobody saw it since his face was still hidden in Phoenix’s shoulder. Lucky, indeed. How did I get so lucky to have friends like this? To have Phoenix, who never once stopped believing in me…who never gave up on me even when I had given up on myself.

He felt he would have to come back to re-explore that train of thought, but at the moment, he was just…happy.

“Party?” Miles finally pulled out of Phoenix’s embrace and wiped his eyes with a slight flush of embarrassment on his cheeks. “Are you kidding? I want to just go to sleep. It wouldn’t hurt for you to get some rest, too, Phoenix.”

“You two are way too overprotective.” Phoenix muttered as he crossed his arms with a pout.

“No, just trying to keep you from doing stupid things again,” Miles pointed out. It felt like there was a weight which had been lifted from his shoulders; he was sailing on euphoria and a bone-deep relief at the moment, but he could already feel the exhaustion creeping up.

“First things first…everybody smile!” Mia grinned as she held up her phone and moved shoulder-to-shoulder with Phoenix.

“Wait…what?!” Phoenix yelped.

Miles, too, was mid-question when the digital shutter went off and Mia stepped back to take a look at how the picture came out.

“Not bad…maybe one day we can more easily do this with technology, but this will have to do I suppose…” Mia grinned.

“What are…?” Miles sputtered.

“Mia!!” Phoenix exclaimed, then saw the picture and said: “…text it to me?”

“Only if you clean the office for the next week starting on Monday.”

“Wha…?! The entire office!? That…that’s blackmail!!”

“Call it what you want.”

“O…objection!!”

And for the first time in twelve whole years, Miles laughed.

Chapter Text

Two unlikely, but perhaps not so unlikely anymore, people sat in the lobby of the courthouse on one of the benches. There were no trials being run that day in late autumn, but instead there was something else occurring in one of the rooms.

Miles glanced at the woman waiting with him. “You took off from work for this? I thought you would have a client…”

Mia crossed her arms. “On such an important day? Not a chance.”

The two lapsed into silence again for a moment before Miles chuckled wryly. “A prosecutor and a defense attorney sitting on the same bench…”

Mia snorted a chuckle. “One of us always makes that joke…if Phoenix doesn’t get around to making it whenever all of us meet up. And besides, I heard you’re still taking a break from being a prosecutor.”

“Yes…I want to sort of get my head on straight,” Miles admitted. He had already told Phoenix, of course. He wasn’t quitting, he was just doing some soul searching.

…while Phoenix attempted to help in his own way of being such a friendly presence that Miles was even starting to question what exactly he felt for the other man.

“Any luck with your sister?”

“You know about that?” Miles looked over in surprise.

Mia nodded. “Phoenix was telling me. I think he was just as surprised to hear that you had a sibling as I was. Though, I was more surprised that the toad actually had a child…(some poor woman had to…)”

Miles cleared his throat before Mia finished that thought, as he preferred not to think of it that way; as if von Karma murdering his father and adopting him just to go on a revenge kick wasn’t bad enough, picturing that sociopath doing the deed and…

There goes my appetite.

“Franziska was beyond furious when she found out about her father’s crime. She might come to Japan when she turns eighteen to…I suppose take over his legacy…but for the time being she’s staying in Germany.”

Mia still had trouble believing that Germany allowed a fourteen year old to practice law in their country.

“She’s being taken care of by relatives there and seems to be working harder than ever at prosecuting. Plus, von Karma hasn’t been put to death yet so he’s still technically her father and technically the head of the estate.”

Mia glanced at him. “You’re alright with him receiving the death sentence?”

A shrug as he looked up at the ceiling. “I was…torn, at first. But after talking it over with Phoenix as well as……anyway, I may be backwards in my thinking, but I still feel that there are some people who just cannot be redeemed and released back into society. I don’t share Phoenix’s optimism.”

“Even Phoenix doesn’t want him back in society. And honestly, I’m of a similar opinion as you are…” Mia thought of a certain Dahlia Hawthorne as she said that. “That said, I’d prefer we expand our prisons and they can rot for the rest of their miserable lives.”

The woman didn’t point out Miles’ inference to speaking with someone else, and she merely guessed that Phoenix had somehow convinced the other to go see the therapist as well.

Good. These kids have been through far too much trauma already.

“In any case, Franziska refuses to listen to me about my own mistakes of that ‘perfect record’. I’m still trying to…leave the perfectionist behind.”

“It’s unhealthy to try to live up to that level.”

“I know. I told Franziska as much. But more than even I, she had to grow up trying to fit the shoes of ‘perfect’. Mistakes were not allowed. Even something as small as getting a single question wrong on a quiz or accidentally knocking over a glass of water was punished heavily.”

Mia’s expression was like stormclouds. “Every time I hear more about von Karma’s idea of ‘parenting’, I want to march down to the prison and deck him.”

In all honestly, Miles figured that Phoenix would probably be more than willing to march down along with her.

“I suppose your sister will have to learn the hard way, then,” Mia mused.

“Yes…I’m going to encourage her to come to Japanifornia to be a prosecutor. Perhaps she just needs a little nudge.”

“A nudge in the form of losing a case, you mean.”

Miles smirked. “Of course. I’d rather her listen to me and realize that winning isn’t what prosecuting is all about, but well…that many years of have toxic perfectionist standards pushed on us is harder to break. Especially for her as she was raised by him longer.”

“Any defense attorney you have in mind?” Mia had a slight smirk on her face.

Miles raised an eyebrow in bemusement. “I think you know my first pick. Well, my first two picks if all goes well today.”

“If not today, then there are more chances…but yes. I know.” Mia chuckled.

For a few moments, the two lapsed into a comfortable silence once more before a thought occurred to the young man.

Miles’ expression turned a little more serious after a moment. “How is your investigation going? Does Phoenix know?”

“No, and I’ll remind you not to tell him,” Mia’s face also became one of seriousness as she looked directly at the young man.

Miles shook his head. “I won’t. Seeing him get injured for me…because I was too scared of what I thought was the truth…I understand you wouldn’t want him to get involved.”

“You shouldn’t be getting involved, either,” Mia warned. “You certainly have things to lose if he sniffs around in your past and von Karma’s meddling of some of your cases.”

Miles stiffened and looked away. “I…”

Mia sighed. “You know I already forgave you for that.”

Miles frowned, but nodded.

Sometimes, Mia cursed how perceptive this kid was. He found out about my investigations into Redd White out of pure coincidence…

“In the very least, allow me to store some back-up copies of your findings or something. I have a…rather secure location I can keep it in.”

Mia tilted her head as she studied his face a moment. “I suppose…”

It was either that or get her sister involved at some point to hold onto some documents for her. Plus, who in the world would expect a prosecutor to work together with a defense attorney?

Admittingly, and perhaps frustratingly, it was a rather good idea from him.

The two fell silent again for a few moments before Mia smiled fondly as she stared at the nearby door.

“Between switching his major and mentoring, he’s been a law student for just a little over a year, now. I’m always amazed at how quickly he picks it up.”

Miles glanced at the door and also felt warmed at the thought. “I’m surprised he wanted to take the exam so early.”

“Well, you’re close to…how did you put it?… ‘getting your head on straight’, and there seems to be some agreement between the two of you.”

Miles flushed a bit and looked away. Just a justice thing, though I’m surprised he didn’t involve Mia…

“I presume it has to do with finding the truth in your jobs.”

“Did he tell you?”

“He said he would ‘let me in on it’ after he passed the bar exam, but I think I’ve figured most of it out. It’s commendable what you two have planned.”

Miles hummed in thought a moment. “It was Phoenix’s idea. But I certainly agree with him, and having been on the…less than scrupulous side, I fully agree with his plan. You’ll join our quest in it, right?”

“Is Phoenix’s new favorite word ‘objection’?”

Miles chuckled. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”

Mia grinned. “Of course. The more allies you two have in this, the better.”

Once again, Miles felt like he had lucked out. Not only encountering Phoenix before the man became a lawyer, but also (and thanks to Phoenix for it) making an important ally with the brilliant Mia Fey.

Before the two could continue their discussion, the door opened and a slightly rumpled and ragged Phoenix Wright stumbled through.

His eyes were wide and his face slack wish shock, though not at seeing the two there waiting for him since he knew both of them would be there.

Miles and Mia both got to their feet.

“Phoenix…?” Miles hoped that this was a good shocked and not a bad shocked…

“How did it go?” Mia spoke at the same time. “If you failed, then don’t worry. You’re still learning, and there’s always next time…”

That was when Phoenix shook his head mutely and they noticed that his right hand was clenched into a fist as he held it up and slowly uncurled his fingers with his palm facing up.

Mia grinned when she saw the little golden lapel pin in the palm of his hand.

Miles let out a breath of relief. “You…! With the look on your face, I thought for a moment that you had failed!”

Phoenix shook his head. “I…passed. I passed the bar. I passed the bar!”

That was when the shocked expression finally morphed into a dopey grin on Phoenix’s face as he let out a cheer of joy (much to the annoyance of some nearby officers).

“Congratulations!” Mia patted him on the shoulder. “Knew you could do it!”

“I thought I was a goner multiple times!” Phoenix laughed.

Miles stepped forward and held out his fist with a smile. “Nice work. You seem to be getting rather accomplished at blundering your way through things.”

Phoenix laughed and fist-bumped the other as a slight dusting of red coated his cheeks.

For some reason, having Miles there was…amazing for him. And he let him know.

“It’s thanks to you! Well, the two of you, but…” Phoenix rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as he gripped his defense attorney badge with his other hand. “At the risk of sounding sappy, it gave me the resolve to pull it off.”

“Yep,” Mia snickered. “That’s sappy.”

“Totally.” Miles agreed.

“But it’s fine,” Mia added. “In any case, we have reason to celebrate!”

“Wahooo!” Phoenix cheered and raced to the door leading outside. “That’s right! We can celebrate! C’mon!”

Miles shook his head wryly. “Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that this is the same guy who, a few months ago, stood up seriously to von Karma in court.”

“Considering that a month before then he was blubbering away as my client…I understand what you mean.” Mia laughed and followed them out of the courthouse.

Phoenix was already waiting outside, and waved to them with a big grin on his face…and his new badge now pinned to his lapel underneath his coat.

“Meet up at the usual café?” Mia offered. “My treat.”

Phoenix pumped his fist happily. He’d been running odd-jobs to earn cash and keep up with his apartment (aside from what he received from his nana every month even though he kept telling her to keep the money), so he was relieved that he didn’t have to pay for it.

“I can…” Miles started, but Mia shook her head.

“Nope. My treat for all of us.”

Miles blushed and stuck his hands in his pockets. “…I’m not a kid…”

Mia gave him a teasing grin (as Phoenix snickered). “I’m older, so to me the both of you are still kids.”

“Hey!” Phoenix protested.

Miles felt his heart flutter for a moment in his chest at the playful pout on Phoenix’s face, and it wasn’t the first time he felt that way either.

Oddly enough, or perhaps not so oddly, it only happened around Phoenix.

Not to mention that things just felt right when he was with the other, and he still felt like he drew strength from Phoenix’s presence in a way which was different from whenever Phoenix managed to talk him into joining him and Larry to hang out, or when Mia was there as well…

“…yo!”

Miles startled, then turned red as he realized that Mia was gone and Phoenix had been waving his hand in his face.

“You spaced out. Everything alright?” Phoenix asked now that he had calmed down somewhat from his passed exam.

Miles looked back at the courthouse. “…yea.”

Phoenix followed his gaze, then smiled in determination. “We’ll change it.”

It hadn’t been what Miles was thinking about, but he still wasn’t sure of what his own feelings were trying to tell him so this was a far easier subject to go with.

“Mia figured it out…she wants in as well,” Miles stated.

“Figured as much. And yea, I planned on asking her to join as long as you were okay with it.”

“The more allies, the better,” Miles quipped.

Phoenix nodded as they continued to look at the courthouse. “It’ll be an uphill battle. We know that the Chief of Police is involved in some of the corruption.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Are you?”

The two stared each other down a few moments, then chuckled.

Phoenix thought for a moment on it. It’s daunting, definitely. And we’ll be working from opposite sides of the bench. But maybe that’s why I’m so hopeful about this. Maybe that’s what it’ll take. And besides…

Miles nearly jumped when hesitant fingers touched his hand, but he then curled his own fingers back around Phoenix’s. I’m not alone. Not anymore. I haven’t been alone for months…and hopefully, never again. And that aside…

“We can do it,” Phoenix stated firmly.

“Ending the corruption and changing the justice system in this country so that it actually works is a tall order,” Miles admitted. He rarely said it aloud because it was honestly a frightening prospect.

They would be up against the Chief of Police, blackmail corporations such as Bluecorp running things behind the scenes, brought-to-you-by officials, and who knew who else.

And yet…at that moment, Miles didn’t feel so afraid.

Neither did Phoenix.

It’s because I’m with him.

“But we’ll do it,” Miles said softly.

“Yup.” Phoenix said with more confidence than his past couple times. Then, he looked at Miles and smiled brightly. “But first…Mia will be pissed if we’re super late.”

Miles chortled and gave Phoenix’s hand a little tug…why does this feel so right?…as he headed to the parking lot. “You’ll never make it if you walk. I’ll give you a ride.”

“Thank you, Miles!”

Yes; a plethora of things could be said about Miles Edgeworth. However, Detective Dick Gumshoe wasn’t the only person who would say something positive. At this point in time, there was also Mia Fey and, possibly more importantly, Phoenix Wright who would stand up for him and who he was.

He was young, but he was no longer the Demon Prosecutor; he no longer cared about a perfect record or getting guilty verdicts.

What he’d rather do…was to find the truth and then act accordingly within the full extent of the law. The best part about it was that he wasn’t alone in it…

“Hey, Miles? Why do you have a CD of the Steel Samurai soundtrack?”

“…please do not go searching through my glove compartment, Phoenix.”

…even though his partner was always finding out things other people would rather keep a secret.

“Are you blushing, Miles? Hey, it’s nothing to be embarrassed about! Remember Signal Samurai? I’ve still got my keychain! Do you still have yours?”

Sometimes, Miles wondered about what exactly his relationship was with Phoenix Wright. The word ‘friends’ didn’t sound exactly right; his emotions seemed to run a lot deeper than that, and he was fairly certain (with a bit of deduction) that Phoenix also experienced these strong and confusing emotions.

“Mine’s right here on my satchel. So, did you…?”

“I…I didn’t……yes, okay, stop looking at me like that! I might still have it somewhere…but that doesn’t mean I was saving it or anything on purpose! I just never got around to throwing it out!”

“OBJECTION!!”

THE END