Chapter Text
The case had been an asskicker, to say the least.
A menagerie of lying witnesses, a clammy client, and Miles goddamn Edgeworth as the prosecutor weren’t what our favorite spikey haired defense attorney would call “Pleasant.”
(Nothing against Edgeworth of course, but he did tend to slip into his “Demon Prosecutor” Persona at times.)
Court had been adjourned, Apollo, Athena, and Trucy were off somewhere with the client, Fera Ames, and Phoenix was trying to look over his case files about this damned contradiction covered bullshit witness when that ever looming voice chipped in.
“Really, Wright?”
Despite himself, Phoenix couldn’t help but grin as he looked up.
And there he saw the trademark annoyed glower he adored. ‘ But not in a romantic way of course! Edgeworth is great but I’m not like, absolutely head over heels in love with him! He’s just my best friend!’
“Hiya Edgeworth! How about Court today huh?” He winked, just to be a bit more obnoxious.
“Ah yes, how could I forget the lovely time we just spent where you floundered about for an hour with your ridiculous bluffing. ” At this pause, he decided to tilt his head up haughtily, the bastard. “In which you subjected us all to changing your theory of the crime no less than five times?”
“Well somebody has to ask the hard questions don’t they? Besides, It’s hot in that courtroom!” The lawyer slowed for dramatic effect. “If I get your cravat to flutter enough, it’s like its own fan!” He replied cheekily, flicking said cravat.
“Nrgk! Wright! ”
Phoenix stepped away, waving his hand vaguely.
“Anyyyways, don’t worry about it Edgey!” ‘ Did his posture seriously just get straighter? Is that even possible?’ “Me an’ the kids have got this in the bag, We can even get some of those Steel Samurai cookies after the case if you want!”
“I already have those.”
“Awh, Maya got them for you?”
“Trucy, actually.”
“That traitor!” Phoenix gasped, flinging a hand over his head while he got up, heading over to find the aforementioned kids.
“ Do keep it up with the theatrics, it never gets old.”
The two left the courthouse together, bickering all the while.
Edgeworth seemed exasperated, sure, but he still had the energy to do that stupid smirk + finger waggle, so Pheonix wasn’t convinced. “You cannot even keep the story of the murder constant, but you automatically assume you’ll win. How pitiful Wright.” He scoffed, looking back at the attorney as he walked.
“Well then it’s a good thing the murderer is always literally two steps away right? Even better when you help me get my verdict. ”
It was always easy to start banter like this, after several decades the two had time to work on it, Phoenix always had an understanding that it wasn’t meant to be an argument, just a really strange conversation.
“Remind me again, You were the one who defended an orca, correct? Apologies If I deem it necessary to assist you now and then, if only to assure that brain of yours is still intact.”
Most of the time.
“You call the jabot around your neck a cravat, who’s the brainless one now??”
“ Hold it! You seriously claim to know more about MY clothing than me?”
“ Take that! I don’t need to! Franziska told me!”
“Since when have you two been talking?!” Edgeworth sputtered, looking at the defense attorney incredulously.
“Since we realized all of the embarrassing things we know about you combined!” He shot back, snickering at the appalled state of the burgundy clad man.
“NGOHH!”
Before the two rivals could continue this argument until the sun blew up, Phoenix walked into a door.
“OW!” Phoenix yelped, backing away and glaring at the door in question. “Stupid d-”
“It’s a door, Wright. Are we going to sue it for assault?” Edgeworth snorted, stepping forward and pushing it open.
“I just might..” He replied, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking in.
It was the crime scene, even if Phoenix’s way of finding it was less than ideal, kind of Edgeworth to warn him..
He couldn’t grumble for long though, as upon further investigation…
“APOLLO!!”
“WHAT?!”
“GET OUT OF THE- DUDE.”
“Uhm, Polly?”
“THERE’S EVIDENCE IN HERE!”
“ ‘Thena, what is he doing?”
“TRUCY, TELL HIM TO GET OUT OF THERE.”
..maybe his kids didn’t have this in the bag-
“..Guys?”
Trucy and Athena turned, while Apollo continued doing… uh..
Phoenix couldn’t see it, but he knew that if he turned around there would be a familiar smirk waiting.
Oh, what the hell.
“Truce, why is Apollo on that Stepladder?”
“Wright, that's a ladder.”
“..”
“WHY IS HE ON THE STEP LADDER.”
“Hmph.”
Trucy doesn’t seem too sure, she keeps turning between Phoenix and Athena with a slightly alarmed, albeit amused expression.
‘ Ok, what in the world?’
“I dunno Daddy, he said there was evidence, but Athena is freaking out?”
Phoenix pivots to stare at Apollo.
“That’s.. Apollo, why are you unhinging a chandelier?”
“It was to get evidence, but now I'm considering making another crime scene ‘THENA.” Apollo replies, glaring at the oranged haired girl the whole time.
..
‘What?’
“Ok, ok, ok, from the beginning please? ALL of you?”
A hand tugs at his shoulder, Phoenix only freaks out a little bit. “Actually Wright, as.. Interesting as this all is, I believe you were going to investigate, not spend time on meaningless banter.” Edgeworth chimes in.
“Hey! Meaningless banter is how I solve ALL of my cases!”
“WHAT?!” Someone yelps.
The dynamic duo stare at the source of the sound
Apollo, now seeing the chief prosecutor - promptly panics.
Which..
“M-MR. EDGEWORTH?!?!?”
Causes him to lose balance on the stepladder, so he grabs onto the chandelier to re-center himself, at the same time Trucy runs to steady said ladder, but in doing so pushes it into the wall.
Athena, resourceful as ever, grabs a bunch of cushions in case Apollo falls, but trips and they hit the chandelier.
Phoenix and Edgeworth watch in horror.
The already loosened chandelier slowly dips lower and lower, towards..
“ ATHENA! ”
“MS. CYKES!”
“ ‘THENA! ”
“...eh? What guys?” Athena drawls as she gets up, she must’ve hit her head when she fell.
The Chandelier inches lower, lower.
‘No, NO!’
“Boss?”
“PHOENIX!”
“MR. WRIGHT!”
“DADDY!”
Phoenix slams into Athena, pushing her out of harm’s way.
‘ ..oh.’
He meets Edgeworth’s fear filled eyes as his world goes black.
------------------------------------
The bed is cold, and the blanket is barely on him.
Sunlight filters through the blinds.
He has a case today, he should probably get up.
..
The clock blares,
:BEEP: :BEEP:
He drags himself out of bed.
Phoenix reluctantly gets ready for the day, he would mope, but Trucy’s not here to chastise him, and what’s the fun of moping if nobody’s around to bother?
Where is Trucy?
She’s probably in the office, reviewing things with the others. It's a high profile case, and Phoenix needs all hands on deck, he reminds himself as he picks up some files, the defendant is from an important family it seems, Fera.. Ames…?
Wait.
A shining Chandelier.
Four Different Screams.
One pair of Eyes.
‘What the fuck, what the FUCK.’
The splash the water makes when he drops his cup barely registers as he runs for the door.
‘ I'm dead, if I'm NOT then Athena..’
He checks his phone, four missed texts. One from Athena.
From.. Athena.
His mind races.
‘No, I’m clearly not dead,’ he reasons, ‘ and Athena must be fine, I’d remember if she wasn’t. Right?’
No no no, she was fine. Athena was okay.
Phoenix glances at his phone. She did text him.
“Hiya boss! Me n Trucy picked up that autopsy report.”
Attached is a photo of his daughters, smiling mischievously with an irritated Ema Skye in the background, the attorney can’t help but smile, exhaling with relief at the visual confirmation.
‘So.. was that just a dream?’
His pace slows. Turning off his Nokia and leaning into the front door.
‘ What.. happened? ’