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Athena, quite frankly, was exhausted. Despite Simon's recently established innocence, it still never felt safe. Her dreams were haunted by the memories of her in court screaming for his innocence, and nobody except her being able to beleive in his innocence.
Simon, quite frankly, was exhausted. Despite Athena's recently established innocence, it still never felt safe. His dreams were haunted by the memories of the girl covered in her own mothers blood, knowing that nobody except him would be able to protect her.
At first, Phoenix thought that it was a welcome change of pace for Athena to take charge of all the chores and paperwork, rather than burdening poor Apollo.
At first, Edgeworth thought that it was good to have a diligent employee like Simon to take charge of a lot of the administrative work, rather than leaving it to languish.
However, something was off. Athena, who was normally an endless bundle of energy, seemed slow and sluggish. The magatama reacted whenever Athena claimed she had a lovely night's sleep.
Something had to be done.
However, something was off. Simon, who was normally sharp and quick-witted, seemed less able to come up with witty retorts like normal. It was now obvious that his clothes were creased as if he had fallen asleep in them.
Something had to be done.
Phoenix sent a message to Edgeworth, perhaps he would have some ideas-
He was startled by a new message that arrived just as he sent his own.
Might as well read it...
Edgeworth sent a message to Phoenix, perhaps he would have some ideas-
He was startled by a new message that arrived just as he sent his own.
Might as well read it...
Yeah. Okay. This was bad. Both of their employees weren't doing well, and trying to hide it despite it being obvious that something was wrong. A plan was formed. They would need to be confronted directly.
Phoenix told Athena to stay in late. He sent Apollo home, but asked Trucy to hang around as backup.
Edgeworth told Simon to join him in the car. He also told Gumshoe to come, as he wanted backup.
Simon was utterly bewildered when he was brought to the Wright Anything Agency. Why did his boss bring him here?
Athena was utterly bewildered when she saw Simon brought through the door. Is this why her boss told her to stay?
Phoenix and Edgeworth stood in front of their two employees. Trucy and Gumshoe guarded the exits.
Athena and Simon weren't stupid. At this point they had both managed to put the two and two together, and realised that their behaviour must have tipped their respective bosses off.
They didn't want to admit it, though.
"Prosecutor Simon Blackquill" starts Edgeworth.
"Miss Athena Cykes" continues Phoenix.
"Why have both of you been overworking yourself without sleep for the last week!?" was the question that both asked at once.
It was Widget that broke the awkward silence "How did you find out?!" it shouted, with it's robotic voice, before Athena could mute it.
Edgeworth tsked and began to explain "Both of your clothes are creased, as if you had slept in them..."
and Phoenix continued after a sigh "...and I can see the psyche locks when you insisted that you were fine."
Gumshoe spoke up "You both need to rest, pals."
It was Trucy who asked the question right at the heart of the matter: "Why aren't you letting yourselves rest?"
There was an awkward silence after that.
It lingers for a few moments, and in that silence, Athena heard the noise of Edgeworth's finger rubbing against the fabric of his suit as he tapped his arm.
"Forgive me for being so blunt, but... It's related to both of your traumas, isn't it." said Edgeworth, finally.
Athena and Simon nodded. It was.
Edgeworth sighed "I see... I can't say I'm not unfamiliar with that, however..." he shook his head, "Don't you feel that overworking yourselves is damaging in it's own way?"
Simon and Athena both wince.
Phoenix rubbed his chin as he thought. "Say... What's the main cause... It's something to do with UR-1, right... So..."
His face fell, "I think I figured it out..."
"Spit it out, or stay silent!" retorts Simon, malice in his voice, desperately trying to use the hardened image of 'the twisted samurai' to scare the man.
Phoenix stood his ground. "If I'm correct, both of you must be having some kind of nightmare about the other, so you both constantly do work stay awake for as long as possible."
No one in the room other than Phoenix could tell if it was a bluff or not. But regardless, he had hit the nail on the head.
"It's the weekend," points out Edgeworth "So, for the next two days, you are to not do any work."
Athena and Simon groaned at that.
Trucy perked up and asked "Hey, what if we have a sleepover tonight! We can ensure that Athena and Simon actually get to sleep, and we can take help them if they have any nightmares!"
Phoenix was taken by surprise but then smiled "I... I guess that's not impossible..."
Edgeworth was taken even more by surprise and looked panicked "Nnnghh... But... But..."
"Hoh hoh!" laughed Gumshoe, "I guess I better get the sleeping bags, then!"
The fate of everyone in the room was sealed, then. A surprise sleepover to force Athena and Simon to get some god-damn rest for once.
Athena and Simon were to get the best and most comfortable sleeping spots.
As they lay down in the same room, Athena had a memory come back to her.
"Hey... Simon...?" she calls out.
"Yes?" he huffed, slightly annoyed about the whole situation.
"Do you remember the last time we did this?" she asked.
Simon blinked. As a matter of fact, he could. Metis had to be out for a night, so Simon stepped in as a babysitter.
It had gone well until it was bedtime, but the poor girl was too stressed to sleep, as she couldn't handle her mother not being home.
In the end the only thing that got her to sleep was Simon sleeping on the floor in her bedroom. He remembers them joking about him being like the Samurais of old, as he was guarding her...
It was uncomfortable, but he remembered somehow managing to have a good sleep, despite the hard floor.
"Did... did you ever get to sleep after your..." he didn't want to finish the sentence. Her mother died...
"Not a wink." she sighs, "Okay, that was an exaggeration, but... I never slept well again, no matter how hard I tried."
"Well... I wonder if the magic of those many years ago will help you again..." Simon let himself smile, since it was too dark for anyone to see.
"Yeah... Let's..." mumbles Athena, unable and unwilling to fight off the tiredness anymore.
Athena's dream was not pleasant, but at least it was different. She was in court, this time, but not at the witness stand. She was at the defence bench. She saw the detective, she saw... the gash in his face. She saw him destroy her mother's work. The work that had caused her to be murdered.
Athena woke up with a jolt, but... She heard crying. It wasn't her crying.
She looked around and saw Simon on the floor in the middle of the room, curled up and shaking with each sob.
She climbed off of the sofa and softly went, "Simon? Can you hear me?"
He continued to cry. Athena gingerly sat next to him and asked "Did you have a nightmare?"
At that, Simon looked up and stared at Athena.
"Yes..." he said, tears in his eyes "I... I... I was about to be executed."
He sobs more, louder than before.
"I... I was lead to the room, and..."
His face pales, and he whispers, his voice strained.
"I... I saw the noose... was... not empty... I saw..."
He sobs again.
"I saw..."
Athena gently held his hand and squeezed it, unsure what to do.
She decides to ask "Simon... What did you see..."
Simon suddenly latched onto Athena, hugging her so tight that it was hard for her to breathe.
"It was... you." he gasped, and he clung onto Athena even tighter.
Athena gasped "Oh... Simon..." and sobbed "I'm here. I'm safe. Nothing is going to happen to us."
She hugged him back, just as tight as he hugged her.
At that moment, Phoenix burst into the room, and switched on the light.
"What's happening, are you okay, do you need anything?" he asks.
This startled Athena and Simon, but both know that he is just looking out for them.
"Simon had... a bad dream." Athena explained. "A really bad one..."
Gumshoe rushed in next, followed by Trucy, and then, finally, Edgeworth.
Edgeworth mumbled "I... overheard something about a bad dream?"
Athena nodded.
A look of concern took over Edgeworth's face as he sat down near them.
"I understand." he said. "Are you two okay with something like milk?"
Both Athena and Simon nodded. They weren't quite sure what the chief prosecutor was up to.
Edgeworth looked up to Gumshoe and Phoenix "You two, make us all some warm milk."
Gumshoe and Phoenix looked confused, but both nodded and left the room.
Trucy sat down on the other side and nervously asked "Hey... Is it alright if..." she pauses "I try to braid your hair, Simon?"
Simon blinked. He was unsure, but... "You know what?" he sighed "Go ahead, hopefully the sensation can distract me..."
Trucy braided Simon's hair as Athena and Edgeworth looked on.
Eventually, Phoenix and Gumshoe walked in, somehow with 3 cups of milk each.
They were evenly distributed across the room, and they all sat in silence, gently drinking.
Athena was starting to feel sleepy again and yawned, and so did Trucy, just as she finished one of the braids.
Simon sighed, but it turned into a yawn too.
Edgeworth smiled a bit and said "I suppose it's time for us to get back to sleep?"
By the time he had said that, Athena and Simon had somehow managed to collapse onto the floor, both their eyes closed, with Trucy also curled up on the floor.
Edgeworth was going to leave until he noticed Gumshoe asleep, leaning on the wall, and Phoenix also asleep, leaning on the other wall.
Edgeworth sighed and closed his eyes. He was tired, and he hoped he could join the rest in their slumber.