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I stood back inside the elevator 17 years ago the day my father died. What was I doing here? I hadn't gotten this dream ever since 2 years earlier, when Wright solved the case. It was as I remembered, being on the elevator along with the bailiff and my father. It had already been 5 hours since we were stuck, and we were all near to passing out. They were having an argument. He was screaming at my father, threatening to kill him. The gun from his safety strap fell out, and on impulse, I threw the gun at them. Then, there it was— a loud bang. I heard the long, agonising scream from Von Karma. But this time, I didn't pass out and lose consciousness, I saw him enter the elevator.
It was as if the scene had paused. None of them were moving, and Von Karma seemed to have his eyes locked on mine. I tried to scream, to reach for the gun and shoot him, but the most I could do was curl up in a ball and shake in panic. He had that same cocky smile he'd put in court when he knew the trial was in his favour.
“Oh, Edgeworth.” He snickered, “ Poor you. Wondering for 15 years who your father's murderer was, not knowing it was the man you looked in the eye most of your life.”
I glared at him, anger seeping through me. Although he had already been arrested, it wasn't enough to make up for everything he'd gotten away and hid for 15 years. He starts laughing like a maniac, picks up the dropped gun, and points it directly at my face.
“What if I kill you first, then your father?” Von Karma laughed to himself, probably already imagining his future “perfect trials” and concealed murder.
“Maybe then no one would know, and they would all forget everything while both of you continue to rot.” He continues laughing, the noise echoing in the small, cramped space.
The gun in his hands is filled with ammo and ready to be shot. finger hovering over the trigger as he looks at me in the eye.
“Good night, Edgeworth.”
I jolt awake, panting as my body fills with cold sweat. Pheonix laid beside me, stirring in his sleep as he mumbled incoherently. I let out a snort before walking towards the bathroom quietly, careful not to wake him up. Water runs on the faucet as sweat from my face is washed away. As I walk back to the bedroom, Pheonix is waiting by the door frame, clearly half awake and dishevelled. I bring him to take seat beside me, a silent laugh unintentionally escaping my mouth as I lift his chin and give him a small peck on the lips.
“Why are you awake right now, Wright?” I asked, skeptical.
“Well, I heard you shuffling around our apartment, ” He scratches his neck, giving me a sheepish smile, “ so I thought maybe something was wrong.”
My arms wrapped around his waist and brought him down to lay by my side. He smiled while I stroked his unkept hair, very different from the spikes he had in court. His hair flew in every direction, mostly covering his own face. I leaned closer, peppering kisses all around his face, feeling the tense air around us start to calm.
“This doesn't concern you, Wright. Go back to sleep, I can tell you're dozing off.” I noted, already noticing him trying to fight sleep.
“Huh?” He opens his eyes in confusion, his brain still groggy from sleep. I smile slightly as my point gets proven, again.
“Okay, but I know you've been having them again,” He pulls closer to my touch, “ The nightmares about that day. And it's not healthy to keep those to yourself, you know. “
Wright, always so insistent. Even though he was clearly not in the state, he still wanted to listen to me talking about a dream he probably has memorised. I took a mental picture of Wright while he was still in this state. Usually, he either has his eyebrows furrowed or his usual face where you know he's backed up in a corner. Figuratively, at least. I just stare at his face as he attempts to stay conscious. Well, long enough to wait for me to say something.
He lets out a sigh before tightening his grip on me and closing his eyes, most likely sensing my hesitance and decides to let the topic go.Though, he still makes an effort to reassure me by lightly patting on my back. For a few moments, the room is quiet. Only the hum of the ac and the pace of our heartbeats; our bodies interlocked with each other.
“It was different from the others.” I murmured, not even sure if he was still awake to hear.
“Hm?”
“My dream, Wright—like he’d broken the fourth wall.” Phoenix cups my face to get a better look at me, even in the dim light where only the glimmer of his eyes are seen. Even so, my cheeks slightly flush from the proximity of our faces and I look away from his gaze.
“Elaborate” He asked me, and so I did. From the realistic and vivid panic I felt, to the scene where instead of Von Karma killing my father, he decides to kill me, like he'd already been through the future before. He listens, even when I start over analyzing every small detail it seems like I'm using it as evidence to a trial that no longer exists.
Somewhere between my tirade against Manfred; without notice, Phoenix’s hand lets go of my face and the lamp by our bedside just slightly turns brighter. Phoenix's face is clearer, revealing the pink hue of his lips and defined jaw. Although Von Karma's faraway, scheming eyes still linger in my thoughts, haunting me, in this moment, all I see, feel, and that completes me are Phoenix's eyes—staring with all the words he doesn't need to say for me to understand.
"Have I ever told you I love you before?" I asked.
"You don't tell me enough, no." His eyes dart to my lips not so discreetly. I do what both of us have been thinking of and kiss him. It felt sweet, comforting, like the taste of his lips. Heat pooled my stomach as I pulled as close as our bodies could let us.
I was now straddling his lap, kissing him slowly whilst slightly tugging on his hair. His mouth slightly curved smiling and I swear I could've heard him breath a laugh.
" I love you, or whatever these romantics say."