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Anxiety struck the lawyer as he stepped into the lobby of the Prosecutor’s Office. Beads of sweat fell down his forehead, and he felt a shiver. Was this really the right idea? Would he even want to see him?
He took a deep breath. This was Trucy’s idea. He had to do it for her. She couldn’t cope with seeing her family split apart like this, and the stress had been affecting more and more. So after wiping the sweat off his head, Phoenix Wright walked towards the secretary’s desk.
“Uhm excuse me?” He gently coughed to get their attention.
“Yessir? Do you have an appointment with any of the prosecutors?”
“Not as such… But I wanted to see if I could talk to one if he was around. Have you seen-?” The name didn’t leave his lips easily. When was the last time that Nick used his full name? Talked about him to anyone but Trucy and Athena? It was an uncomfortable feeling, so much so that the secretary seemed somewhat surprised with the weight that the name held.
“I’m sorry sir, he stepped out for a case earlier today. But maybe he’ll be back soon? Should I give him your name and number to call once he’s back?”
Phoenix shook his head. He knew it’d be worthless. The two hadn’t spoken in months, and the last time was… Not on the best terms, to put it lightly. In court, over a murder case, with tensions rising. No, there’d be no point leaving details.
“Mind if I just wait here then? It’s important…”
The secretary shrugged and pointed to a sofa. This wasn’t usual, but with how often the Chief Prosecutor got people to wait on him in the main lobby, it’d surely be fine to just have someone wait for an impromptu meeting. Especially when said someone was the famous defense attorney Mr. Wright himself.
Phoenix took a seat on the uncomfortable sofa, and began to mindlessly text his daughter with updates. He was never the one for texts, especially with how clunky it was on his old Nokia, but he knew that she was too busy preparing for her next act for a call. Plus, she had said she wouldn’t speak to him properly until he had at least conceded some time to the prosecutor in question.
Time dragged.
On.
And.
On.
And.
On.
Many prosecutors - some recognisable, some not so - passed by over the hours, some even stopping for a chat. But no sight of the one he was waiting for.
Until.
“...Mr. Wright?”
The voice was a hoarse, fairly high-pitched familiar one. Phoenix looked up to see the man he was waiting for, standing in a bright red suit, brown hair having grown into slightly long locks in the past few months, and the ever distinctive horns at the front, just above a shaggy fringe covering a famous forehead.
An awkward silence filled the room as the two men, formerly family and coworkers, stood staring at each other, no words coming out. This was as difficult as Nick had feared.
“Uhm… Sorry to bother you, Apo-Prosecutor Justice. Trucy asked me to have a word. Are you free?”
The other lawyer looked at him tentatively with his intense glare; clearly unsure as to what to say. What to do. He mustn’t have been expecting this. But he gave a sigh and a nod. “...Only for Trucy, Mr. Wright. Follow me to my office.”
The elevator trip was seemingly never-ending. The two men stood in silence, not looking at each other, until they finally reached their floor. Apollo led the way, until he reached a door with a fairly fresh “Prosecutor Justice” nameplate on the front. After unlocking the door, he held it open and Nick entered.
The room was essentially a broom cupboard. Nick had heard from his husband that new prosecutors rarely got a nice office until they had proven themselves, but this was worse than he had imagined. There was only just enough space for a desk with a couple chairs, a small bookshelf, and Apollo’s own potted plant. Unsurprisingly, the room was immaculate. Apollo had always been the primary cleaner of the WAA after all. On his desk were neat piles of papers, and a couple photos, one of Clay and Apollo; and another of Trucy and Apollo posing for a show. No photos of himself or Athena in sight. Nick let out a sigh. Of course not.
“Take a seat, Mr. Wright. I’m afraid I don’t have much time, so I can’t really offer any coffee or anything,” groaned the shorter prosecutor as he took a seat behind the desk. “What do you want? I thought we agreed to stay out of each other’s way.”
Phoenix sheepishly sat down and played with his cowlick. He really didn’t want to do this. Despite everything in court, he wasn’t one for confrontation unless absolutely necessary. But how could he bluff this?
“...I, erhm, wanted to apologise. For everything.”
A cynical laugh could be heard from the other side of the desk. He looked up to see Apollo holding his head back and laughing into his hand. This was familiar. Too familiar.
“It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it? Shouldn’t you have done that a year ago? Or maybe not just hurt us like that in the first place!?” Ah. The chords of steel were coming out.
“Apollo… Thalassa and I kept it from you to keep you sa-”
“Not this bullshit again!” Apollo slammed the desk and stared right through Nick again. Lying to Apollo never was possible. It always led to that stare. That murderous, cold glare that sent goosebumps down your spine. “Safe from what!? Pain!? Betrayal!? What, Mr. Wright!? Safe from what!?”
“...We were scared, okay?” The words were practically vomited out. Phoenix didn’t even want to admit it to himself. “We were scared you’d hate us. You’d hate her. We didn’t know if you were ready, okay!?”
“We’re not children!” Apollo groaned, pushing a finger to his fringe. “We wouldn’t have been hurt if you just told us sooner! But how can you wait two years to tell your own daughter and apprentice that they’re siblings!? How can you blatantly lie like that for so long!?”
He stood up and started pacing animatedly. It was almost always impossible to talk to him when he got heated like this but… Unlike last time, Phoenix realised he should listen. He had cooled down with time. He had hoped the same would be true of the other, but even if not, it was worth hearing him out.
“Kristoph betrayed me, Clay died, Dhurke died, and I thought I had no family left! I was happy with you all, but I thought I was alone. Do you know how much easier those losses would have been if I just knew!? And Trucy! She only had you for all those years! She needed to know!”
Phoenix felt himself nod out of instinct. He didn’t want to admit it.
“That’s what annoys me most, Mr. Wright. That’s why I left. Not because of my hurt. But because of what you did to her. I felt betrayed, but she felt broken . Her own dad lying to her for years. Not even trusting his own daughter with a secret that could fix her wounded heart. Do you know all the shit we’ve been through!? And you wait until then to tell us!?”
“Apollo… T-Trucy’s handled it we-”
“Unlike me? Is that what you were going to say?” Apollo let out a deep sigh after his yell; taking a deep breath to calm down. His words were starting to get more slurred. Was he….? Crying? “If you really think that, Mr. Wright, you don’t know her at all. She smiles. She laughs. But she’s more hurt than anyone. You knew that when it came to the Gramaryes, so I thought you’d know that about her with you.. But I suppose you’re bluffing to yourself huh? Is that all you’re good at?”
“That’s uncalled for!” And now Phoenix was on his two feet, rage starting to fill him in return. Everything Apollo was saying may have been true, but it stung. It stung in a way that he felt he had to defend himself. “I made a mistake! But I’m still her father, and I have to take responsibility for it! I don’t appreciate you saying I don’t know my own daughter!”
“Then why can’t you see her pain!? I’m not the only one hurt by this. Hell, the fact that she sent you here to me shows it! She wants us all to be happy again! Do you think I wanted to leave? Do you think I wanted to be a prosecutor? But I had to find the truth my own way, away from you. I… I needed space. I still do.” He took a seat and put his head in his hands.
“Wanna know the worst part, Mr. Wright?”
“What.” Nick couldn’t help but snap, the accusations and criticisms starting to hurt his ego a little too much.
“...I can’t even bring myself to hate you. Not after all this. Not after how you’ve betrayed and hurt Trucy and I. Not after all you’ve done to help us. Isn’t that stupid?”
And there it was. Apollo’s big, stupid smile. Covered in tears, but his classic smile nonetheless.
“Just. Just give me more space. I’m not ready to talk about this yet… When I am, the three of us can get a coffee. But please… Please leave.”
And without a word, Nick did as he was asked, a lot to think about. Maybe he didn’t get the result he wanted, but at the very least, he saw Apollo smile again. Something he hadn’t seen since he left.
And maybe that was progress enough.