Chapter Text
[PROLOGUE]
(Christmas Cards)
…
Miles Edgeworth did not particularly enjoy the holidays. And that was fine, he had his work. He could remain productive over a season when most generally abandoned things to spend time with their families. When one really thought about it, it was great. There was always less paperwork for the new year so he was free to take on other cases in early January.
And sure, this made Franziska call him a humbug, which he supposed was accurate, but he was fine with that. Besides, complete apathy was quite a lot easier and less time consuming than therapy. Miles had absolutely no time to deal with things like his ‘grief’ about a death that had happened well over a decade ago. That would be trivial. The case that caused all of this had been solved a year ago, there was no reason for Miles to ever think about Christmas again, and with that he was perfectly fine.
Nevertheless he was always baffled by how many Christmas card lists he was on, never allowing him to forget the terrible time of year. At least one of the cards made sense, namely his eldest adopted sister’s card. She had a whole family of her own, a husband and a daughter. This was simply a cordial acknowledgement of his existence, and that was nice he supposed. Still, he stuck it in his desk drawer, as it did not belong anywhere else. Many of her other ones had faced the same fate, going back several years. All in a neat little stack.
The rest of the cards made a lot less sense. He appeared to be on the list of several of his coworkers, apparently. Payne’s card made it promptly to the waste basket. But Lana’s was quite nice he supposed. It was just her and Ema on the front, holding a wreath. The words “happy holidays” sprung beneath it with a short note from his mentor.
However, perhaps the strangest was the one that came every year on exactly the same day. November 30th. The one that he had received ever since he had been a young man, and it was decidedly the most chaotic and least desired card.
Raymond Shields sent a card every year, with an attached letter updating Miles on life and repeatedly telling him to “call more” whatever that meant.
Miles hated this card every year. He dreaded it, and he despised it with every shred of his existence.
But this card was tricky. One could not simply chuck it the same way one would with a Payne family Christmas card. No. Miles read it. Every word. And that fateful year, it read like this:
…
"Hey, Miles! Buddy.
It’s Ray here with the annual update! I’m literally never sure if you see these, but I’m hoping you do, because it’s all I got.
So! Edgeworth and Co. Law Offices is not exactly flourishing these days. Not a lot of crime happens in this town, as ya probably remember. Guess that's why your dad used to go on those work trips so much, probably better business. But you gotta admit, the cheaper rent out here is a nice perk. Makes paying easier.
Anyway, I'm still making enough to keep the business, so that's nice. More civil than criminal cases out here. Two divorces this year, and three ongoing custody battles. Boring. :(
Heard you made the news this year, not for anything good I bet, but it’s something! I think it mentioned a note. You’ll have to come tell me about it sometime, I’m not getting any younger you know!
7th time asking you to come visit for Christmas. Maybe it’ll work one of these days. Do you even read these?! I bet you don’t. Why am I writing????
Miss you, bud. You should call more.
Happy Holidays!
xxx-xxx-xxxx
your uncle Raymond."
…
Miles stared down at the paper, silently hoping that it would spontaneously combust. It did not, and he sighed. Seven years, had he really been receiving them for that long? Yes, he supposed that lined up. First time he had received one he had been 17, and he was 24. 7 years of torment. 7 years of avoiding everything.
Miles glanced at his calendar, which he had just changed over to December. It was blank. Franziska had left for Germany only a day before. Miles frankly had nothing keeping him where he was aside from paperwork which was easily transported.
He looked down at his dog beneath the desk. Pess looked back, her tail gently swishing back and forth.
For the first time in recent memory, Miles Edgeworth made a snap decision, and he instantly regretted it. Miles stood from his desk, and packed his suitcase.
…