The Piano Man

by starlesssankt

Summary:

Hunched over the white and black tiles of the instrument, the Piano Man looked like life had got rough on him. He looked disheveled and his voice, which used to be joyous and full of life was now murmuring lyrics as his fingers were dancing slowly over the tiles. It was a painful lament and the few heads scattered around the room were all turned to him and him only.
The phantom watched him play, his throat tight and his breath short. He watched the disheveled man before him and only he could think of what could have happened if the Phantom had not been the coward his mentor had pushed him to become. The story of a past that had never happened was playing before his very eyes. The floor was rocking under his feet. For a moment, he was Odysseus letting the mermaid sing their poison into his ears.

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Upon learning Phoenix Wright's disbarment, Miles Edgeworth rushes to Japanifornia cursing himself for leaving behind his country and his friends. Upon seeing how life had had a serious toll on his colleague, Edgeworth made a vow to himself to help Wright get back on his feet.

Chapter 1

Summary:

"Miles Edgeworth was a fool who lived in the constant delusion that maybe the next night was going to be a soundless night."

Notes:

Hello, welcome to my first Ace Attorney fanfic where I'm trying to pretend that I know all of its lore even though I've only played the original trilogy, Appollo Justice's first trial and read an insane amount of NaruMitsu fanfics. I wrote this instead of doing all the assignments due for next month so I hope you will enjoy this fic ! ALSO, English is not my first language (and I may be slightly dyslexic) so I'm terribly sorry if they are TONS OF errors in the text. Also I strive on comments and advices, so feel free to express yourself ! /gen

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This chapter contains the use and abuse of sleeping pills (please do not try it at home)

  A restless mind in a restless body. A phantom wandering the noisy streets of a buzzing city ready to dance the night away. Despite the old-fashioned attire, nobody seemed to notice the ghost swiftly passing by the illuminated vitrines. The only time people seemed to finally care about his presence was when he was accidentally shoving them in the shoulder without glancing back at his victims.

  A mind at War against itself and its own urges.

  A melody, that where his mind was rushing to. He had heard a melody, like a complaint full of sorrow. He had heard it once in a dream and he was now hearing it in the middle of the hustle bustle of a crowded street. The ghost wanted to run towards it. Who was going to care since he was an invisible man. Nobody cared about the stranger with the odd clothes who was roaming the streets of a modern city.

  His feet took him to a short flight stairs leading to a basement which seemed to have been turned into some sort of club. The melody was trying to get out of this hellhole. Like a lamentation it was calling for him and him only, or so he thought. Quickly, he climbed down eager to discover what or rather who was the siren singing their melancholy to him.

  As the Phantom crossed the threshold, he was met with warmth and torment. He was an invisible man so nobody took notice of his intrusion. Standing on top of small stairs, the Phantom gazed at the room before him. The club looked like it had stopped in time when the world was still spinning. Everything from top to ceiling, looked used and worn down. Dust could almost be smelled by the Phantom who had frozen in place, his hand gripping hard on the metal rail, his knuckles already pale as a sheet of paper almost looked trans lucid now.

  He could now hear clearly what had been calling for him. In the middle of the room, illuminated by a single light on the ceiling, stood an old piano which looked like it was about to crumble completely from the weight of the years. But the Phantom couldn’t care less about the state of the piano, it was the Piano Man at the end of it who was mesmerising him. Hunched over the white and black tiles of the instrument, he looked like life had got rough on him. He looked disheveled and his voice, which used to be joyous and full of life was now murmuring lyrics as his fingers were dancing slowly over the tiles. Paired together, the melody coming to his ears was a painful lament and the few heads scattered around the room were all turned to him and him only.

  The phantom watched him play, his throat tight and his breath short. He watched the disheveled man before him and only he could think of what could have happened if the Phantom had not been the coward his mentor had pushed him to become. The story of a past that had never happened was playing before his very eyes. The floor was rocking under his feet. For a moment, he was Odysseus letting the mermaid sing their poison into his ears.

  The sound of something dropping on the stone floor took the Phantom out of his tragic hallucination. He looked at his feet, his hand raising to brush his face as he realised that his very own eyes were betraying the apocalypse happening inside his mind. It did not wait for the song to end as he rushed towards the exit, silent sob coming out of his mind. He was an invisible man, nobody would notice his departure anyway, he thought to himself as a purple figure in the front row was now smirking at the door that had just closed behind his Scarlet figure. 

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  As much as he hated to admit it, especially to himself, Miles Edgeworth had never got used to the recurring nightmares that had been haunting his dreams for the past fifteen years. He could count only one hand, the few dreamless nights he had gotten since that day. And still, dreamless nights did not mean restful sleep, at least, to his knowledge. 

  He had thought that with Von Karma’s arrest and the truth of that fateful night finally be unveiled, the nightmares would have stopped, at least a little bit, but as always, he had been wrong to be hopeful for such foolishness. Of course they would not leave him, why would they ? It was so fun to feast on his restless mind so why stop now when they could tourment him a bit more ?

  The man had just turned 26 years old and he still had to leave a light open every time he was heading to bed. It may have been one of the many reasons he had never let anyone enter his chambers, he did not want anyone to know how much of a fraud he truly was. How pathetic of a man he had grown into… 

  He had tried sleeping pills before, only one pill per night but it unfortunately did nothing so he started taking two per night… Miles Edgeworth choses death… It certainly looked like it at times…

  Every night he was risking his life just to get a few hours of soundless sleep which he never got. It was always the same : as soon as he closed his eyes, sleep felt like hands pulling him  deep into his mattress, he was sinking in pillows and bed sheets, swallowing whole. As uncomfortable as it may seem and even though he knew that none of this was real, it was almost comforting to feel pressure over his own body. 

  The nightmares always came soon after settling in his sleep, they came rushing, hitting him violently, like a wave crashing into a calm beach. They were always the same : either he was trapped in a small enclosure filling slowly with sand, running away from something which he never got a chance to take a look at, or he was just reliving his father’s murder over and over again. However,ever since that bridge incident, new nightmares had been added to the collection,much to the delight of Miles. Sometimes, he would dreamed that he was not running from something but for something, or rather for someone. Someone that he never managed to save since he would always arrived after it was too late… 

  Every time he would find himself trapped in the middle of a desert, aimlessly wandering this empty space under a starless sky, loneliness as his sole companion and where he could only hear the tick tack of a distant clock.

 

  Tick… Tack… Tick… Tack…

 

  But like every single moment of peace in his daily life, this utter quietness would always get ruined by a scream piercing the veils of the moonless night. Each time, it sounded like a symphony of voices, voices all desperately calling for him. 

  He had never been able to identify to whom that Voice belonged to, but every time it started calling his name, he would automatically start running toward it. He would run like his own life was depending on it. All he knew was that he had to “save” whoever was calling for him, he had to be there for them and so he would run helplessly until he could feel his lungs collapsed. He would run as far as his legs could take him and they would always take him to the verge of a cliff. Yet, no matter how hard he had run to arrive there in time, it was always too late… That voice… it would always end up piercing through, not only this soundless night, but also through his sleep, waking him up instantly in a daze. He’d pant like he had also just finished a marathon. Was he the one who screamed ? He would ask himself, embarrassed by the state he was in. I grow tired of the foolish foolery created by my foolish imagination. Never he tried to go back to sleep after having a nightmare as he knew that it was useless to even try to do so… And so he would start his day, even though most of the times, it was only four in the morning and he was the only fool in this town who was awake and ready to seize the day. 

  Miles Edgeworth was a fool who lived in the constant delusion that maybe the next night was going to be a soundless night. The prosecutor just wanted one normal night, and nights in Paris were not as quiet as movies and books tend to pictured them, so it was not tonight that he was going to finally get that restful sleep he had been daydreaming of. 

  He had been asked to come to Paris a month ago by French prosecutor Jean Aimar, when he was still in Berlin where he had been staying to help another colleague of his. During this phone call he had been made aware that he was to come help unfold a gruesome affair of vandalised paintings that had been terrorising  Parisians art gallery. Come to think of it, it should have been the Paris’ prosecutor office that should have been vandalised, since it was probably the most horrendous building he had had the disgrace to lay eyes upon during his stay in the capital of “love”. And it was a lot coming from a man who had lived most of his life in a city deprived from a cultural and historical heritage in comparison to the centuries of History skimming in any European landscape.

  For the past six months, he had been traveling around the world, helping his fellow colleagues here and there while trying to enjoy his life away from Japanifornia. He was roaming on Earth, never settling in, never growing roots anywhere. What was the point of living in big apartments, empty of any unnecessary furniture, when you constantly lived constricted in your  own mind ? 

  He also had had very few contact with anyone from his home country, apart from the weekly call from Detective Gumshoe which strangely had been less frequent this month… it was not like he cared about the amount the attention the detective gave to him but it still feel unsettling for Miles to not have received a single notification from the policeman… He had probably finally found a new prosecutor to obnoxiously follow everywhere they go. Perhaps it was prosecutor Debeste since, from what Miles had gathered during their last call a few days before his departure to Paris, had been overwhelmed with work and trials. Across the ocean, life was nicely following its flow. Japanifornia did not miss him and he certainly did not miss it either.

  Standing at the window peering at the buzzing avenue of a Paris preparing for the holiday season, he was staring at the phone contact he had never dared to call nor text, despite the strange and unfamiliar feeling growing inside of him every time he thought about doing it, every time he thought about him. This thing inside of him was craving to reach out but every time he shut it up before he would do anything stupid. 

  Japanifornia does not want to hear from you Miles, quit pinning for this unnecessary feeling. He told himself as he closed his phone, ready to head to bed for another night of pure nightmares. Carefully, he folded his pants and hanged his signature crimson suit inside the massive closet provided by his hotel room. There, he had put away his black waistcoat and the four spare crimson suits he had brought with him. He then headed to the vast bathroom where he had conscientiously sorted his skincare products based on his grooming routine. Everything needed to be done in the right order for Miles to properly fonction and so he did every step of his routine as he had always done. It was engraved in his brain so much that if he wanted to, he could certainly do it perfectly his eyes closed. 

  It had now become an automatic routine and so he let his mind wander as he meticulously applied his night cream. What had happened to Gumshoe for him to finally shut his mouth ? And why had yet he to receive a message from Miss Faraday even though she had promised him to reach out daily ? Prosecutor Debeste had also seemed a lot more troubled when he had him over the phone… Something was not adding up… And Miles did not like the lump forming in his stomach but chose to dismiss it. He was still in Paris for an important affair, it was definitely not the time to worry for futile things. 

  Three minutes sharp for his teeth to be perfectly brushed, set it aside, make sure it is perfectly sanitised, put aside, take out the sleeping pills, one… two… He thought about it… He had to be up at seven and it was quarter to ten… he could definitely take a third one tonight, just to try to see if it could ease his mind. He filled up the glass with tab water, stared at the three white pills in hand. Just to ease your mind… He told himself as he swallowed them all at once.

  He then made his way back to the bedroom where he finally lay down to sleep. One normal night… He reassured himself before completely losing himself to the drowsiness of the sleeping pills.

  Down… everything was going down… he opened his eyes to see that he was no longer in the comfort of his bed but standing inside an elevator going down rather rapidly. For the first time, he was not floored from being in the cramped enclosure that was an elevator. He did not know where this was leading him, he only had a slight idea… Maybe the sleeping pills did more than give him a few hours of sleep and he was now heading to Hell ? At least if Hell existed. 

  The elevator suddenly came to halt. Miles could hear a song coming from wherever the cabin had taken him. The sliding doors opened and classical music filled the space. It was dramatic and beautiful, full of pipes and organs. Miles knew that song. It was so familiar but to his great demise, he could not put a title nor a composer on it. He walked out of the elevator only to be somewhat teleported to what seemed like a completely destroyed courtroom where only his plaintiff’s table was still miraculously standing. Naturally, Miles’ eyes trailed to the defendant where blue was supposed to meet red but across from him was nothing but void. The defendant’s table seemed to have fallen alongside the entirety of the courthouse leaving only an empty cliff. 

 

  “That’s far enough ! You cannot run forever…” 

 

  Miles’ face snapped to his right where the judge was towering him, eyes glowing red, he was no longer the foolish and senile old man he used to know. He was tall, had he always be this tall ? Miles wondered 

 

  “Phoenix Wright !”

 

  Miles’ eyes went wide. He gazed back to the defendant’ table where nothing had changed, Wright was not there, yet out of the corner of his left eye, he caught a glimpse of something blue. He turned to his left where his eyes met the defence attorney with the porcupine hair. The man was standing on the verge of the cliff where the witness stand should have been. He looked absolutely hopeless  and did not seem to notice Miles standing on his right. 

  “Wha…!? What have I done wrong !?”

 

  Miles had only seen Wright look this miserable during Engarde’s trial, when Maya had been kidnapped and Shelly de Killer was toying with Wright’s gentleness… He had made a pact with the devil itself just to save someone else… He had set aside his convictions for the sake of justice… He did not care that his winning streak was going to be ruined if it meant that he would get to unveil the truth and save his friend’s life… That implacable selfless fool was everything Miles was not… 

 

  "I cannot allow you to go on like this !”

 

  “But I’m just a defence attorney !”

 

  Miles could almost see the Psycho-loche tightening around Wright’s limbs. Oh Wright if only you knew…

 

  “Silence !”

 

  The judge’s voice roared like a thousand thunderbolts, sending shivers all the way down the prosecutor’s spine. He could almost feel his organs trembled from how loud that voice was. Miles slowly turned to the judge who had now raised his hammer, ready to strike phoenix and reduce him to dust. 

 

  “You are no longer worthy of your title !” 

 

  It all happened too quickly and Miles did not have the time to jump off the plaintiff table to come for the defence attorney’s rescue.

 

  “Wright !”

 

  Miles shouted as he suddenly jolt up, completely shaken up by what he had just witnessed. It all had felt so real… He was panting, his entire body shivering despite the fact that his bedsheets were damped by his sweat. That was definitely the last time he was taking three sleeping pills at once. As he slowly recollected himself, he realised that his face weirdly wet ? His right hand swiftly reached out to his cheek. Was he… crying ? Tears were flooding his face for the first time in several years and Miles Edgeworth did not know how to stop them.

  He stared at the hand that had collected a small portion of years of repressed feelings. Unnecessary feelings. It was three in the morning in Paris and Miles Edgeworth suddenly missed home.

Notes:

I love them your honor and I have been insane about them for the past two weeks (my Pinterest can attest to this). I shall thank my depression, my love for Ghost Trick and my current obsession for Piano Man by Billy Joel for this fan fiction. I needed to just word vomit the scenarios in my head so I can feel good about myself. Also I need to come clean about my tendancy to never finish the fanfiction that I start, let's all hope and pray that I keep my promise and finish this story (PREACH BROTHERS).

p.s : I have updated this first chapter by adding at the begining a short prologue which happens to be a small "trailer" for one of the upcoming chapter (THE chapter that has basically inspired this entire fanfiction). I apologize in advance for this very specific chapter (just thinking about it made me insane and everyone knows that sharing is caring) as it will just be me writing the crazy things in my head.

Chapter 2

Summary:

Still shivering from the nightmare he just had, he swiftly made his way to the bathroom where he, upon coming to the sink, had to suppress a surprised gasp when his eyes met the dishevelled Ghost in front of him. His hair was a total mess, eye bags were running deep under his eyes and his skin looked paler than usual. He splashed some water onto his face but the ghostly veil did not come off his skin. He looked absolutely terrible and the lump he had previously repressed was forming back in the pit of his stomach.

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Notes:

Hello welcome back here !! I can't believe i'm truly and fully doing this. I have tried to write a new chapter as quickly as possible and I hope you will like it despite the fact it is relatively smaller than the previous one !!

  Edgeworth quickly went to his feet, dizziness rushing to his head as he tried to stabilise himself. As much as he hated to admit it but, as he looked back to where he was just laying down, his bed was not the only mess in this Parisian room. 

  Still shivering from the nightmare he just had, he swiftly made his way to the bathroom where he, upon coming to the sink, had to suppress a surprised gasp when his eyes met the dishevelled Ghost in front of him. His hair was a total mess, eye bags were running deep under his eyes and his skin looked paler than usual. He splashed some water onto his face but the ghostly veil did not come off his skin. He looked absolutely terrible and the lump he had previously repressed was forming back in the pit of his stomach. 

 

  Inhale…. one… two… three…

 

  Never his nightmares had been about someone else but him and why did it had about that man ? And also why did that lump in his stomach did not want to go way ? He had nothing to stress about at the moment. 

 

  Hold… one… two… three…

 

  His life was exactly and perfectly in order : he was respected by his peers, he was travelling every other months, discovering new countries along new ways of enforcing justice…  Everything was exactly how he had planned it back when he had left Japanifornia after Von Karma’s trial… Right when he… when he had… when that man… when he had decided that Miles Edgeworth did not need roots to grow stronger. Roots were only obstacle he did not need in his life. He was convinced that he did not need anything or anyone around him, as they would continuously slow him down… To Miles Edgeworth, commitment only meant pain… His father, Franziska, him… 

 

  Exhale… one… two… three

 

  He pinched the bridge of his nose as he, on top of everything, felt a headache coming. He needed some air and so he went to the glass door leading to the small balcony. The cold air of November came brushing his face, sending shivers down his spine. He peered at the glowing city in front of him. Even if it was three in the morning, Paris was still buzzing with life and it was somewhat reassuring to hear so many noises around him. 

  He looked down to observe the few group of people passing by, enjoying their life as if it wasn’t the middle of the night and people were not sleeping in the comfort of their apartment ; after all, it was a Thursday night and everyone who had been around French student knew that Thursday nights meant party nights. He sighed as he recollected Larry Butz’s words. It had been a surprise for Miles to learn that while he was working hard in Germany to become an efficient prosecutor, his “friend” had had a very wild life.

  He had specifically asked to have a room not too high so he could avoid taking the elevator everyday. He was now quite thankful to have a room on the second floor of the hotel since as weird as it may seemed, Miles enjoyed watching from afar, people live their daily life. He secretly took great pleasure in observing something he was not, and will never, be part of. Something he had no impact on…. He will always remain a stranger to them and it was fascinating to think about it. 

  Listening to the traffic while watching the hustle bustle of Paris night life was actually calming the prosecutor. He felt his body slowly relaxed as he watched a couple passing by on the other side of the street. The two men were holding hands, dancing, laughing loudly and Miles suddenly felt uneasy as he remembered the look of total despair on Wright’s face. Why couldn’t that man get out of his head ? He had finally managed to relax but the lump, that stupid gut feeling, it was forming back in his stomach and he hated it. 

  Annoyed by his own foolish feelings, he walked back into the bedroom which was now freezing. He quickly marched to the night table where his phone was charging and swiftly snatched it. On his lock-screen, he could read that it was now half past three in Paris and half past six in the evening in Los Angeles. He did not know why he had kept Japanifornia time on his phone but there it was, reminding him that he could reach out to anyone there and they would probably respond. 

  He stared at the phone, pondering upon what he should do. He could not dismiss the gut feeling he had as he recollected his nightmare. Did something bad had happened again in Los Angeles ? Did something bad had happened to him again ? Non sense, call it luck or bad luck but that man was almost unbreakable… Almost… He remembered how pale he had looked in that hospital bed, more shaken than injured, but still very shaken to see Miles at his bedside…

  He was glad he had been able to come so soon but the prosecutor still blamed himself for not being there sooner… For not having been there at all… For running away again because of growing roots…

  He felt the beating of his heart quicken as he realised what he was about to do. Despite the reluctant feeling inside of him, he opened his phone and went to his contact app where he scrolled down to the “P” section. Quit being a fool Miles, He scold himself, it’s like ripping off a band-aid, you better be quick with it to let the pain go out of the way. He finally dialled the number, his throating tightening as he listened to the familiar beep sound. His heart was beating so hard now that he was sure it could burst out of his ribcages at any second. 

 

  “Hi this Phoenix Wright-“

 

  That voice… Miles felt his heart skip a beat for a second.

 

  “Wright this-“

 

  “I’m not available at the moment, please leave a message and I might call you back”

 

  Oh. Now Miles truly felt like a foolish fool from the foolish country of the fools. He stood in the middle of his room, too stunned to even react to what happened or rather what did not happen. He heard the familiar beep indicating him that he had to leave a message but he remained silent. He had made a fool of himself which was a completely foolish statement since he was the only occupant of this room. Nobody will know… He felt his face heat up. Of course someone was going to know, the man himself was going to know that his childhood friend had called in the middle of night after several months of complete silence…

  Miles started pacing nervously around his room. He was an utter fool. If Franziska had been there she would have stroke him down with her whip for his foolishness, and he would have let her and even thanked her for it.

  Why did he even called him in the first place ? Definitely because he wanted to know how he was doing like two casual partners would usually do. Definitely not because he was missing hearing his voice and the foolishness that could come out of his mouth. 

  Definitely just to know how he was doing… Why was even thinking about him ? Wright was always fine… but Miles could not ignore the lump that was still lurking in the pit of his stomach. He could not rub off that weird gut feeling that something was wrong. Gumshoe, Kay and Sebastian’s silence… Something was off and he needed to know what had happened in Japanifornia.

  Quickly he went to the small desk provided by his room were he had set down his laptop and the various files concerning the affair he had come to Paris for. As he opened it, he was momentarily blinded by the blue Steel Samurai wallpaper displayed on his screen and with a annoyed sighed, he opened the web browser, frenetically, yet meticulously, typing “Phoenix Wright” in the search bar. 

  Oh.

  Miles suddenly heard his ears buzzing as he read “Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney, found guilty of forgery in murder trial : loses his attorney badge at 27 year old”. The prosecutor was thankful to be sat as he suddenly felt lightheaded and on the verge of fainting. 

  Wright, disbarred ? No, that couldn’t be… He must have not waken up from that awful nightmare. The defence attorney was the most righteous man he knew and never he would have forged evidence, not after fighting those things in court. He had fought and defeated Gant and Von Karma over this. His pure honesty was what Miles respected the most in him. This was surely a vast joke.

  His throat was even tighter than before when he opened the article and read it thoroughly. He was now starting to hyperventilate as his heart was now beating at an anormal pace. Anger was rushing in his veins as he read how ludicrous this whole ordeal was. Wright had been the most righteous man in court. He was better than any prosecutor, judge and defence attorney who had trodden the ground of the courthouse. Hell ! He was a better man that miles could ever dream to become ! That man hod solved numerous cases. He had so many lives including his own and that’s how he had been thanked !? Trashed by every newspaper of the state and his peers ?

  The young man suddenly felt guilt wash over him as he realised that it was partially his fault… He should have stayed in Los Angeles with Wright instead of running away again like the coward Von Karma had taught him to be. He put his head in his hands, his fingers digging and pulling on his hair as he cursed himself for being a stupid man child.

  Wright… why didn’t you tell me about it…

  Miles came to his feet and went back to the bathroom. He was craving for a cold shower to calm his nerves. He quickly undressed himself not caring about carefully folding his pyjama before entering the Italian shower. He let the water poured on him as he wished to just vanish completely.

  Why didn’t he called him even though they were not on the greatest terms ? They were partners… Miles let his right arm support his body by resting it on the tiled wall as he spiralled down into overthinking. 

  Maybe he had tried to call him and maybe Miles had been to focused on his work and on forgetting Japanifornia that he didn’t notice it… Or maybe something awful had happened to Phoenix… Maybe he…

  Oh shut up Miles, you are talking about The Phoenix Wright. The man who tried to cross a bridge on fire, fell into the icy waters and only catched a mere cold. 

  There was only one way to know if the defence Attorney was alright. Miles had now a written apology to send to his french colleague and a suitcase to pack.

  It was quarter to four in Paris and Miles Edgeworth needed to find the quickest plane for Los Angeles.

Notes:

Miles Edgeworth the autistic creature that you are...

I was supposed to continue this chapter but I felt like this was a nice way to end the chapter here. I've already planified what I am about to write in the next chapters (don't worry Phoenix's POV will soon arrive).

Chapter 3

Summary:

"She was the sun setting up after a long moonless night."

Notes:

"I HATE THAT BITCH, I HATE HIM, I HATE THAT FUCKING BITCH, I FUCKING HATE THAT FUCKING BITCH" I shout as I, the author, am the hand that creates such a bitch.

Spoilers : Kristoph Gavin is his own warning

  As much as he hated to admit it, Phoenix Wright loved the attention Kristoph Gavin was giving him. He, in fact, craved for his touch and the kind words he could whisper in his ears when the dark thoughts was crawling back to haunt him. He had been the one to reach for his hand when his life had completely spiralled down… when he had let his life go off the trail… When he…

  Throughout his life, loneliness had always been Phoenix’s most loyal companion, as he had never been the popular and extraverted man everyone thought him to be. It had been there to cradle him after Mia’s passing, then when Mia left for Kurain, when he disappeared without a trace… And then, there it was at his side again, right after his last trial against coffee aficionado, Prosecutor Godot, when everyone left him again to live their life away from Los Angeles. 

  He had not been mad at Maya and Pearl for leaving LA, in contrary, he had been relieved to see them off to their home town. The two cousins had deserved some alone time after what they had both went through especially in such a short time. 

  Morgan Fey was still in prison, with no prospect of getting out, leaving a nineteen years old as the sole caretaker of a young kid because Pearly was only nine years old… just like… just like he was when he had lost the only parental figure he had in his life… 

  That little girl deserved a normal childhood away from the mess and drama of Los Angeles’ courthouse. As for Maya, the young woman was now training to officially become the new Master of Kurain. For Phoenix, it had been in her best interest to stay away from him and his cases as she, even though he liked her very deeply, tend to be a bit too nosy at times. Either way, he would have refused to take her in if she had asked him to remain his assistant.

  For the first two months, he tried to visit them every week end, as he terribly missed the company of his friends and because the affairs were slow in LA. but then had come that fateful day...

  Of course Maya had come to support him as soon as she heard the news but Phoenix had dismissed her rather harshly since he did not want her to see the wreck he had become… Obviously, Maya being Maya, she gave him the silent treatment for a week but then she came rushing back to have some burgers with him like nothing had happened between them. No matter how much she had reassured him that she was no longer mad at him, he still terribly regretted the way he had treated the young woman. Phoenix truly did not deserve a friend like her. 

  She had been the one to push him to adopt Trucy while Kristoph had firmly told him to let the justice system take care of her case. 

  “Nick, I have seen the way you treat Pearly. You have become one of the most important  person in her life, after me obviously, and she has grown so much ever since she met you. You don’t realise it yet, but already from what I can tell, you’re going to be the most wonderful dad ever.” She had told him with a fond smile, the night right before he visited his future daughter. 

  “Plus fatherhood will finally help you to get some dates. I was truly starting to worry for you Nick. I almost had Pearly to channel Mia so I could ask her some infos on your past dating life if you even had one, you lost cause.” She had continued with that snug look on her face to which she received as a response, a shock shriek coming out of Phoenix’s mouth. The man had turned completely red which lead to the young woman howling in laughter.

  At that time, Kristoph Gavin had been Phoenix’s daily companion. When it had been hard for him to get up in the afternoon, after spending his nights in worries and endless staring out onto the void, Kristoph had been there to make sure he was attending to his vital need, and not letting himself rot in bed. Everyday he came at his apartment, giving him news about how hard he was fighting the forgery allegations, his forgery allegations, the one that had cost his attorney badge…

  Kristoph’s presence had been his anchor. He had been the only one who had not gave up on him, if he didn’t count Detective Gumshoe who had tried to check up on him as much as he could despite the fact that the ex-attorney had apparently became the public enemy number one. 

  Phoenix had been scared that the word of his disbarment came to Edgeworth’s ears. He had spent most of his nights imagining the profound disappointment on the prosecutors’ face. He was supposed to be his colleague, his partner. He was supposed to be different from Von Karma or Gant.  He was supposed to show him that it was possible to fight deeply rooted forgery schemes, and not make a use of it in turn… Phoenix had learned from Gumshoe during one of his visits, that Edgeworth was now mostly prosecuting internationally. The ex-attorney did not know if he should take his absence in LA as good or a bad omen. Did Edgeworth had given up on him and that was why he never showed up like he did back when he had fallen from the bridge ? 

  In all honesty, Phoenix could not blame the man for giving up on him… He deserved it… He had broken Edgeworth’s trust by using the sale filthy method his previous mentors had used.

  Phoenix never shared his worries about Edgeworth to Maya even though he knew he should have done so. But the young woman was already so worried about him, he did not want to upset  her more than she already was. After all, bluffing his problems away had always been Wright’s way to work and by extension, his way of living. Maya did not deserved to be burdened by her friend’s troubles especially when she already had so much on her plate.  Phoenix was just trying to make sure she wasn’t the one fucking up her future. At least, he was relieved that she did not used her Megatama to pull teeth out of him.

  Though, when Kristoph was around, he could not help but wear his heart on his sleeve and pour out all of his sorrows onto the defence attorney. Kristoph never shied away from him. He would always hold his hand and gently stoke the back of it with his thumb. It truly felt good to have someone like him in his life.

  Maya always made sure during her visits to let his best friend know that she did not approved of his new acquittance but Phoenix always brushed her concerns off. Kristoph was all he needed until that fateful argument… 

  It all started when Gumshoe briefly visited Phoenix to update him on young Trucy Enigmar’s situation. The Family court had found no relative alive of the little girl, and so she was soon supposed to be placed into Foster care. Upon hearing this, Phoenix had felt his heart leap into his throat. Zak Enigmar had vanished into thin air, abandoning his young child behind him and to think about how lost she must have been, the ex-defence attorney couldn’t help but feel a jolt of pain in his chest. It was all his fault and he felt the urge to help that kid even if it meant to give up all hope to get his badge back. 

  Two days before meeting with the little girl, Phoenix had expressed his concerns to Kristoph, in hope he would encourage him to do something for her but instead, the defence attorney had tried to talk him out of it.

  “You cannot even brought up to properly take care of yourself and you are thinking about taking in a child? Wright, I knew you were mad but I did not think you were that gone off the rails…” Kristoph has scoffed. He was sat on the used sofa of his apartment. As usual, the man had refused any beverage Phoenix had proposed to him and so he sat leg crossed, his hands resting on his knees. “Wright…” Every time he said his surname like this… in a harsh way, like a repressed German accent momentary slipping out of its shell just to linger on this few syllables, Phoenix couldn’t help but shivers with uneasiness. Something was wrong with the way he was pronouncing his name but he could not pinpoint what was it, only he could feels in his guts that something was missing. “Please look at the state of you and the place you live in. You cannot be seriously concerning in welcoming a mere child ! How will you attend to it needs when you have been radiated from the justice system ? Where will you find the funds because I shall not be a caregiver to a disbarred lawyer and a child” Phoenix felt his ears ringed at the harsh words that had been said to him. He could not believe that the angelic face sitting in front of him was able to spit demonic words with serenity. Without truly realising, the ex-attorney had catch a glimpse of his friend’s true colours. 

  Phoenix’s face must have betrayed the horror he was feeling, for Kristoph had suddenly reached out to hold Phoenix’s hand. He gave him as warm, reassuring smile.

  “Think about it Wright” Again with the way his name lingered on his thin lips “Do you really think this situation, your situation, will be good for the two of you ?” Gently his thumb started stroking the back of his hand and Phoenix let his body relaxed to the subtle yet comforting touch. “I am just thinking about your mental health here as I am worried that welcome a child will only trouble you more than anything.” Phoenix let the attorney’s words settle in his mind as he melted from the soft human touch he was receiving. How could cold hands warm an entire body with simple strokes ? “Let the justice system do their job and let me take care of you and you only…” That night, after Kristoph had left him alone in his bed, Phoenix could not rest. His mind had been, like every other night, restless but this time he no longer worrying about anything. The man was silently and seriously considering what Kristoph had told him, after all, he was the one who still had a badge on his lapel. He had been ready to let go of the little girl, let the family court do their job just like Kristoph had told him. Phoenix had thought to himself that it was best for him and Truly to stay apart from each others since he did not want to ruin her life again…

  But unfortunately for Kristoph, Maya Fey came for a visit the next day and she gave a very different speech to the ex-attorney, leaving him completely torn apart. 

  The day of his rendez-vous with Trucy Enigmar, he had left his apartment with a lump in his stomach. The closer he get to the family court, the more he wanted to throw up on the sidewalks. What was he going to say to that poor little girl ? What was he supposed to do ? But as soon as she smiled at him, it was like all of the troubles that had been burdening him had suddenly been lifted from his shoulder. The eight years old had given him the warmest smile despite the fact that he was the reason her father had fled the country. As soon as she had seen the ex-attorney, she had sprung on her feet and ran to hug him tight, her orange cape floating behind her and her magician dangerously tilting when she pressed her little body against his belly. Unconsciously, something healed in the young man. That same day, Trucy Wright came home with him and as they walked, hand in hand, to his apartment, her new home, he made a promise to himself that he will do everything in his power to make sure that this little girl, his Daughter, will never felt abandoned in her life. He needed to become a better man for her. He had thought Kristoph has his light at the end of the tunnel but in all truth, the attorney had only been the few matches he had lit to find his way to the light. Trucy was his light at the end of the tunnel, the light for which he awoke everyday to. She was the sun setting up after a long moonless night.

Notes:

Next chapter Miles Edgeworth will beat the shit out of Kristoph Gavin !! Just kidding... Unless ?

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Thanks for reading this chapter, I hope you liked it because I had so much trouble writing Phoenix pov. I was so scared to be too much out of characte. This chapter was supposed to be longer but I had to cut it in half because it's was getting a bit too long. I do not how I will get myself out of this mess but I'll try.

Also, if I may recommend a song which happens to be the inspiration for the relation between Kristoph and Phoenix, it's Fake Plastic Tree by Radiohead (yes I also happen to be a huge SatoSugu truther). If you already know the song, you might get what I'm trying to convey in their relationship (I love making my character suffer #sorrynotsorry). I have made three Ace Attorney playlists if you're interested in knowing the way I perceive those characters and how I will be writing their relationships :

Phoenix : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2X2yWcEbQATzH5L7mEDaUu?si=8c05249d5ae24166

Miles : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5LwOeHW7UCJBZ0FUqKGH1P?si=d0df1b46d6604af2

Narumitsu : https://open.spotify.com/playlist/45SEtySGg2HBFnlFmW0lFY?si=5191884eeb8943a7

On the topic of music, I also happen to have a Tiktok where I upload NaruMitsu edits (and other fandoms) if you ever want to check them out (@starl.k).

Okay that's all for now, I'm currently trying to write the fourth chapter, I'll probably finish it by the end of this week NORMALLY

Chapter 4

Summary:

"Trucy giggled and for a moment, Phoenix forgot why he was even worried in the first the place."

Notes:

Guess what, this chapter is the longest one yet and it's also the most heartwarming one (we can all thank Trucy for this), so you're in for a wild ride of Phoenix Wright being a good father to Trucy.

“Trucy was his light at the end of the tunnel, the light for which he awoke everyday to. She was the sun setting up after a long moonless night.”

 

If Phoenix had been cursing out Zak Enigmar after his sudden disappearance, he swiftly changed his mind when he realised that Truly had been registered in a local school. Which meant that he did not have to go through the hell that was administrative paperworks, and that he did not have to give up on said paperwork to just homeschool the little girl and call it a day. Thanks to whoever was in charge up there because as much as he liked to think him a smart man, he had to admit that was not that smart in terms of teaching method, especially when it comes to mathematics and physics. 

The ex-attorney had also been thankful that Mia had chosen a condo that had a living space with two bedrooms attached to the main office. Maya and Pearly were usually the ones occupying the spare bedroom during their stay in LA but now that Trucy was living with him, it would be difficult for the two cousins to live with him even for a short while, since, unfortunately for everyone involved, Phoenix had not planned that with Tracy came the full ultimate magician package which was a ludicrous amount of magician props that could not fit in the small bedroom and had to be moved to the main office which was already too small for Mia’s files.

At first, Maya had whined a bit to see her “marvellous” posters get taken down from the walls. 

“My beautiful, perfect room” she had whimpered as she helped Phoenix build the new bed while Trucy was showing to Pearl her new tricks in the living room.

“Remind me, how old are you again ?” He had asked as he got up to massage his sore back.

“I could ask you the same Grandpa Nick !” She said as she sprang to her feet, two fists on her side and an angry look on her face. Phoenix could almost see smoke coming out of her ears. It’s when she acted like this that he could finally see the ressemblance between the two cousins. 

“Be careful there’s a girl named Pearl Fey that makes very good impersonation of you” he said in a chuckle as he waggle his finger to her face to which she scoffed, forgetting why she was mad in the first place and suddenly flashed with a smirk.

“Edgeworth has truly rubbed off on you, won’t you agree Nicky Baby ?”

Phoenix had glanced at the finger he was pointing and suddenly realised what he was doing and quickly took that finger down, his face red as a tomato. Did somebody had turned the heat up ? He had wondered. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Do not lie you fool or I shall whip you !” She had exclaimed with a forced and awful German accent.

“Oh no Mystic Maya, you would not hurt your beloved !” Phoenix answered as he held his face with his two hands and bat his eyes.

The two friends had remained silent for a few seconds and suddenly bursted out of laughing. Tears were flooding their face and blurring their vision. It was the first time since his disbarment that Phoenix had had a good laugh and he was happy he was sharing it with Maya.

After the two friends had finished setting up the rest of the new furnitures. They all sat down on the sofa of the cramped living room to eat a good dinner consisting on Chinese takeouts and burgers to watch a few episodes of The Steel Samurai.

Their watch party had been punctuated by Phoenix’s constant (but hilarious) commentary of the kid show and complemented by Maya’s usual kicks and hits in his ribs to shut him up. For the first time since he had adopted her, Trucy had nested herself in Phoenix’s arms and dozed off right in the middle of the second episode. The ex-defence attorney had not had the heart to wake the little girl up to send her to bed and so he had let her stayed there, enjoying the warmth of their embrace while hoping that Maya had not seen the tears rolling down his cheeks. Quickly after his daughter had fallen asleep in his arms, in turn, he drifted off as he thought to himself how good it felt to have chosen to adopt the little girl. 

When he had woken up, the girls had both fell asleep on the couch, The Steel Samurai was still playing in the background which was illuminating the peaceful scenery displayed in front of him. He had sighed, relieved to have all of them in his life. Silently, he had carried his daughter out of the living room to lay her down in her bed. As he carefully put her to sleep, he couldn’t help himself but tenderly kiss her on her forehead before leaving the room, tears filling once again the corners of his eyes. 

In the Living room, Maya had awoken and was gently stroking her cousin’s hair. She had muted the TV infusing the space with a silence far from obnoxious, it was a very pleasant and comforting silence featured by the reassuring buzz of the old fridge in the open kitchen. When she finally broke the silent, she did not look at his friend.

“I told you that you were going to make a great dad Nick” she whispered to him as he sat down next to her, his attention turned to the little girl resting her head on her thigh. “Mia would be proud of you, you know ?” She finally turned to him, a warm smile on her face and a tear rolling down her cheek. 

He had looked at his friend, the mention of his late mentor and friend made his throat tightened. Oh how he was missing her. Even though he could always ask to one of the Fey girls to channel his former boss, it was still hard for him to truly accept that she was truly gone. 

Maya suddenly scoffed 

“I knew you were a crybaby Nick but I didn’t know it was that bad!” Phoenix had not realised that he was crying again but this time it was no sad or desperate tears, it was happy tears. It had been good to hear that he was still eligible for his mentor’s approval… “Look, I’ll make sure to let Mia know about how much of a crybaby you are !” She said as she showed him her phone. The Medium had managed to snap a picture of him and Trucy when they were both asleep on the couch. It was difficult not to notice the tears staining the Man’s cheeks, especially with the flash illuminating their faces.

“You better not share this to anyone except Mia” He answered, cold sweats pearling on his brow. 

“I can’t make any promises” she answered with a cheeky laugh as she raised from the couch with Pearl in her arms. “Well, good night Nick and please make sure to remind me to never ever invite you to any of my Steel Samurai watch party” She said as she walked away to Phoenix’s bedroom with her cousin in her arms. 

After the two mediums had headed to bed, the ex-defence attorney had quickly cleaned the tea table while thinking about how good of a day it had been, and for the first time in several weeks, Phoenix Wright spent a night free of worries and dark thoughts. 

When the father and daughter accompanied the two cousins the next day to the train station, Phoenix made sure to thank Maya for being there for him. She had been a bit taken aback as she was not used to him expressing that much affection to her but then she had pulled him in a tight hug.

“You better not stain my hoodie with your snoot” Phoenix told her as he heard her sniffles in his shoulder.

“Too late” she answered as she pulled away from the embrace, her eyes glimmering from the tears she had just shed. 

They had looked at each others fondly but the moment was quickly ruined by Pearl’s gasp followed by her whispers to Trucy.

“We should let Mystic Maya and her beloved say their goodbyes privately” she was chuckling and pulling at the magician’s cape who was looking at her friend puzzled. 

The two friends swiftly separated from each others, annoyed but amused by the little girl’s comment. Pearly still had a lot to learn about friendship and relationship…

Usually after a Fey’s visits, Phoenix would slump back into despair and bedrotting. It had always been difficult for him to see his friends leave for Kurain after a weekend spent together since it meant that he had to go back to the obnoxious silence of the abandoned office. But now with Trucy at his side, he happily strode back to his place. In a twisted gist of fate, the office no longer looked like it belonged to a forfeited attorney but to Max Galactica himself. It seemed like the circus could not leave him alone at all.

Nonetheless, he was glad that Trucy’s props were recovering absolutely everything in the room from top to ceiling, even though it meant that he had now more cleaning to do while also avoid every traps set in this giant safety hazard. Paradoxically, he enjoyed the brothel surrounding him, it meant that he no longer had to constantly face his failures any time he had to leave his condo. The mayhem was his daily reminder that he had now someone to look after. He was content of the way his life had now become and yet, Kristoph Gavin always made sure to let his friend know that this “mess” was not a proper way to live.

To Phoenix’s surprise, the weeks following Trucy’s adoption had been marked by Kristoph’s absence. Anytime he had tried to call him, he was send directly to voicemails and in turn, the attorney did not try to reach out to him. But Phoenix brushed off this behaviour, since his texts were not left on read, Kristoph was just too busy and could not spare a little time for him, which was fine with Phoenix since Kristoph had reassured him that he would never give up on him. He was the best attorney in town, of course he had tons of work especially after the mess he had made with the Enigmar’s case. And Phoenix had also a lot to do anyway, he couldn’t just mop around the apartment all day when his savings were burning out quickly.  He had to find a job and so he went through an avid job hunt. 

But first, he had had to find a new attire for his interviews. Blue was definitely not an option when just the sight of his old suit made him tear up. It was best fo it to stay in the closet for a while. Trucy had helped him to find a proper suit, she had found a cheap but beautiful scarlet suit for him during one of their shopping trip but Phoenix had stopped her immediately. Red was a very pretty colour but not his colour and so he chose instead a grey suit with a red tie as a compromise. 

He had wished that job hunting could go as smoothly as finding the perfect suit but unfortunately for him, job hunting as a twenty-seven years old forfeited attorney had been the most humbling experience he had to ever go through. Of course he did not have any professional experience outside being a failed attorney so of course it was hard to sell to any manager that he was fit for the task at hand. Moreover, being named Phoenix Wright in those dark times was not the best idea. Doors kept on closing on his face, his hopes withering by the days. At least Trucy made always sure that her daddy was entertain when they were together. Even if he had tried to keep a smile on his face, the little girl was no fool, she knew deep down that he was hurting but did not want to worry her. And Kristoph who was still not answering his phone… Perhaps not everything was all wright.

The young dad was starting to lose all hope of finding a job until Larry Butz, his childhood friend arrived one day unannounced at the Wright Nothing Agency. Larry had been there for Phoenix when he had lost his badge and if it had not been for Gumshoe, the man would be rotting in a cell for trying to set the Courthouse on fire. When something smells, it's usually the Butz. Phoenix often recalls how Kristoph had coldly scolded Larry for his behaviour and forbade him to visit Phoenix for a little while. The reason was that it would be bad for the ex-attorney to be seen with an arsonist with bad luck especially when the defence attorney was fighting hard in court to make him regain his badge. Of course the artist had not listened and continued visiting his friend to tell him the various adventures he was living everyday and Phoenix had been glad that Larry had not listened to a single thing Kristoph had said, at least with him he knew that he was going to spend a fun time. And Trucy loved her new uncle. The two of them truly was a match made in heaven which Phoenix did not know if he needed to worry or not about those two getting along so well. 

“Nick big news ! Great news even !” Larry had shouted as he bursted in the Wrights’ cramped living room. 

Trucy was sitting at the small kitchen table next to Phoenix. The pair had been bending over a math problems for over thirty minutes and it truly was a relief to have something pulling them out of it. The artist rushed to where the duo was sitting and pulled out the first chair, shaking with excitement.

“Hello to you too Larry, what can I do for you today ?” Phoenix said as he winked to his daughter who was giggling from her uncle’s odd behaviour. The man was ecstatic 

“Remember when you lost your job ?” On that Phoenix almost choked on his own spit. He glared at his friend which turned red from embarrassment, cold sweat pearling on his brow. “Silly me ! Of course you remember… why… why would you forget this aha… ANYWAY Nick you should really start setting aside the past to start a new and fresh chapter !” He suddenly shouted, his fists clenched on either side of his face. The father and the daughter looked at each others before both rolling their eyes in exasperation. 

“What did you want me to say Larry, and do it quickly before I throw you out of this place through the window”

“…” His friend stared at him for a while “well remember when back in college we used to sneak out and got to this Irish pub downtown ?” Phoenix could already sensed a migraine in coming  “And you remember that you often got so drunk that you started playing that song from Top Gun you remember ?” Phoenix did not want to look at Trucy. She did not need to hear about her father’s  past debaucheries, especially at a young age. As Phoenix tried to cough in order to make his friend changed subject, he continued rambling and mimicking the way he used to sing the song that of course he remembered. Top Gun was peak movie and probably his favorite movie of all time.

“It went something like 

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain

Too much love drives a man insane

You broke my will, but what a thrill

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire

Gosh I wish I could have filmed this to show you how great of a performer he was Trucy. It was amazing. By the way Nick, I love you, truly, but you should change your taste in movies because it’s actual ass, it’s so old, not even Tom Cruise best movies and-“ But before Larry Butz could continue his insane rambling, Phoenix hit him hard in the foot which made his friend yapped in pain. 

“I told you, I will not hesitate to throw you out through the window Larry and I am a man of my word” Phoenix simply said as he wagged his finger to mark his point. “Can you get to the point now because I need to finish helping Trucy with her homework.”

“It can wait !” Trucy exclaimed as she sprang to her feet and put his little hand on Phoenix’s mouth to prevent him from talking. “Please Uncle Larry tell me more- AH !” She suddenly screamed, taking off her hand which was now wet.

“No, it cannot wait Trucy. We need to finish this because you have a test tomorrow remember. So please Larry can you get to the point for once and for all.” He calmly said as his daughter was trying to wipe her wet palm on his track suit.

“Okay, okay, so I have this friend Charlie, you know the pianist from the jazz lounge ?” He didn’t but didn’t want to say anything or else Larry would go on a side rant about how he should met him. “Well Charlie has this friend who’s the owner of the Borscht Bowl Club down in 3rd street near the Arts district, and well he told me that they were looking for a pianist to work full-time there.”Phoenix could already smell troubles.

“Why didn’t your friend Charlie take the job since he’s a pianist ?” Asked Phoenix completely puzzled.

“That’s the thing, he can’t play poker.” Larry flashed him his special grin, the one he used where he had a terrible idea in mind.

“No.” Instantly answered Phoenix as he got up from the table to go get himself a glass of water. He desperately needed something fresh because he already knew where his friend was trying to embark him in.

“But Niiiiick-“ The man stopped his friend’s whine with a hand.

“Truce I’m sorry to have to ask you this but can you to your room for a moment, I need to talk privately with your uncle. It won’t be long I promise.” He gently asked his daughter who nodded and started gathering her stuff before heading out to her bedroom.

“Bye uncle Larry, please be nice to him Daddy” she said as she was waving goodbye.

“I’ll try my best” The ex-attorney answered with a wink.

As soon as he heard the door closed, he turned to his friend who was sweating bullets.

“I know she’s eavesdropping so I’m going to stay calm for her sake…” He pinched the bridge of his nose to then rub his spiky eyebrows. “Larry, you know that I am no pianist, I can barely play any song except for this one.” Larry tried to interrupt him but Phoenix raised his hand again and continued. “Plus you do know that playing poker is illegal now, right ?” Larry looked at him with his small empty eyes he had when he know he was in trouble. “Oh God Larry !” Phoenix couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to punch his friend in the face.

“But Nick please hear me out.” Larry had raised his two hands as if he was surrendering himself. “Sit down and hear me out. I know you’ve been having a hard time finding a job”. He raised his hand to stop his friend to retort. “It’s not Trucy would spilled the beans don’t worry, I just can read it on your face buddy”. It was like a weight had suddenly been lifted off his shoulders. Of course he knew, everybody knew that Phoenix Wright had been blacklisted by all the agencies in town. The ex-defence attorney sighed.

“Nick this job is your chance to get back on your feet, for Trucy. I know you and I knew that you would shut me off before I could even tell you what the job was, but you need to think about your daughter.” Phoenix glanced at Trucy’s bedroom door to she was probably glued on, trying to listen to their conversation. Why was Larry Butz of all people, the one giving him a pep talk about job hunting and being good at it ? “Pyotr couldn’t care less about who you are I promise. I checked with him myself before I even came to you.” The artist sighed. “I know that you don’t like when people help you, I know that it makes you feel like a lost cause that needs be rescued but Nick, I am your friends and friends are supposed to help each others.” Phoenix refocused on his friend who was now warmly smiling at him. “Remember, when all hope fades, you still have your friends by your side.” Larry went to his feet to put down a card with some contact details written in thin letters in front of his friend. “You should at least try and see it for yourself man.” He continued as he marched to the door leading to the main office. “Oh and by the way, you’re a fantastic piano man, stop downplaying your skills, it’s bad for business” Larry winked at him before leaving him alone in his open kitchen.

The ex-defence attorney took the card in front of him. As much as he hated to admit it, Larry Butz had surprisingly had very wise insights on his situation. Indeed, Phoenix did desperately need a job to provide to not only his needs but also, the ones of the little girl who was now his daughter. He needed a job so he could give her a good life.

“Trucy I know you’ve been eavesdropping, you can come out now.” Phoenix gently said with a little smile on his face.

The little girl slowly opened the door to poke her little head out. Even if it was dark in the corridor, Phoenix could sense that she blushing from getting caught red handed by her father. Swiftly she rushed to come meet her dad and hug him tight.

‘What did I told you about eavesdropping Truce ?” He said as he stroke her hair.

“I’m sorry daddy but I don’t want you to be sad because of me” she sniffled.

“Hey, I’m not sad because you, why would you think that ?” He asked as he lifted her up to set her on his lap.

“Because you are trying hard to find a job because of me and it’s making you sad…” she simply answered as she fidgeted with the strings of his hoodie. His heart sank as he heard this. Trucy worrying about him was the very last things he wanted and it was making sad to know that he’s inability to find a job was causing her pain. 

“Oh honey, it’s not your fault really. I needed to find a job anyway and look” He raised the card Larry had left him. “Uncle Larry has helped daddy find a job so everything is alright now”. He squeezed her tight which made her giggle.

“Stop it you’re hugging me too hard I can’t breeze !”

Phoenix relaxed his arms and they both fell silent. It was a comfortable silence. One of those silence, Phoenix wished it could last forever.

“Daddy ?” Trucy asked with a little voice as she was still playing with the strings of his hoodie. Phoenix hummed. “You know if you don’t like the job, I could still hire you as my personal musician for my magic shows” Oh Gosh how he could loved this little girl. He knew she was being genuine and that was the worst part of it, she was so sweet and Phoenix could not resist it.

“I’ll consider it” he said as he kissed the top of her head.

“Really !?” She joyously exclaimed as she turned to face her father. Her face was beaming with delight.

“Maybe, just maybe but don’t get your hopes too high up because I’m a terrible musician !”He said with a laugh as she squeezed him hard enough to choke him. “Trucy careful you’re choking me !” Trucy giggled and for a moment, Phoenix forgot why he was even worried in the first the place.

Notes:

Larry is finally here !! Guys I love him so much, he's so me coded.

I know y'all are waiting for Miles' comeback, it's in the drafts somewhere but it's coming soon do not worry ! Next chapter will be Phoenix's pov again but we're coming toward presents day so it's coming. Slowly but surely.

Anyway I hoped you liked this chapter, I think it's my favorite one so far, I loved writing the several interactions Phoenix had with his friends and his daughter (literally healing my inner child with this POV).

Chapter 5

Summary:

Phoenix Wright goes to meet Piotr, the owner of the Borscht Bowl Club to finally found a job.

Notes:

Hiya, I hope yall spent an amazing winter break along the numerous celebrations happening during this said break. I wanted to apology for the delay in publishing this new chapter !! (perhaps the AO3 curse is finally catching up on me as I will drop out of college LMAO). ANYWAY, I hope you will like it, I must say, I struggled a lot in writing it because my mind was bombarding me with ideas and I did not know how to start this new chapter !!

  After his “talk” with Larry, the ex-defense attorney had followed his friend’s advice and had gone, the following day,  down Little Japan to meet Piotr the owner of the club. 

  He had struggled a lot to find where exactly was the club since it was actually situated in the basement of some antique shop and was not situated at the sight of everyone like every normal bar or pub. When something smell, it’s usually the Butz… Phoenix had told himself as he climbed down the few steps leading to the entrance of the club.

  From the outside, the “club” was giving mafia hideout and Phoenix had almost taken to his heels if he hadn’t read the little wooden panel next to the entrance door on which was written in elegant letters “Borscht Bowl Club”. Odd place to have a club installed here, he thought to himself but then he remembered that his daughter’s magic agency used to be a lawyer office and was also the place they both lived in. He was definitely not the one to talk about odd place to work in.

  As he had expected upon opening the heavy metallic door, the club looked and smell like an abandoned basement. It was so worn out that Phoenix could have wondered if Larry hadn’t actually given him the address for an urbex spot if it wasn’t for the man with the broad shoulders and the synthetic left arms cleaning glasses behind the counter of a wooden bar. Maybe that wasn’t a trap set by the Cadaverini to “thank him” for his service like he had first thought it was.

  The man who the ex-defence attorney had assumed to be Piotr had not seem to notice the stranger who had just stepped in his club and was now making his way to his bar. As he crossed the sticky floor of the club, Phoenix could not help but let the smell of cold cigarette and alcohol pleasantly itch his nose. It was oh so overwhelming pleasant, so familiar, so comforting… Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t realise that his hand was now his the secret pocket of his hoodie fidgeting the half-empty little cardboard box. Sweat was forming at his brow, he already had a cigarette before coming in and another before and another another one before that one… Now again he had almost crept up a cigarette out of its enclosure to light it in a closed environment… 

  Almost…

  Sometimes he swore he could feel the weight of the small box weighing in his pocket. Always smoke outside so the smell does not stick…

  “What’s troubling you pal ? You seem a bit lost” Had suddenly said the Barman, pulling the attorney back to reality. He realised that had stopped his path right in the middle of the bar and was patting his inner pocket. He had been drowning himself in his thoughts again. Maybe he needed to go back to the safety of his room, he was clearly not suited to find a job in the state he was currently in… Go back and wait for Trucy in the safety of his home… Yes he should be doing that…

  “Come and sit here old sport” Had said the barman, pulling again Phoenix out of his thoughts. “You look like you need a drink my friend” he was now patting the counter to invite the ex-attorney to come and sit there.

  A drink sounded nice and quickly, maybe too quickly for his taste, Phoenix made his way to the bar to sit where the Barman had put a glass of fresh water. 

  Oh

  That kind of drink, Phoenix had told himself, ashamed of thinking about anything else but water.

  The Barman suddenly laughed loudly.

  “Ah I see you were expecting for something else, my friend. I must apologise but I have a no alcohol before 6PM policy.” Phoenix chuckled nervously “I know, I know it’s bad for the business but there’s a time for everything.” The Barman continued with a wink and Phoenix caught a glimpse of a deep scar right on the man’s right eyebrows.

  “I assume you must be that Wright guy I was told about, am I Wright ?” He said which earned him a chuckle from the ex-attorney. Usually he wasn’t a fan of bad puns including his last name but something about the middle aged man standing in front of him made him relax and laugh with him.

  “You’re here for the job offer right mister Wright ? I must say, that artist friend of yours was wrong, it didn’t took you long enough to come here” The Barman scoffed as he put away the glasses he had been drying with his tablecloth. 

  Instinctively, Phoenix’s hand went up to his neck where was hanging a gold locket in which he was keeping his most precious treasure. Embarrassed by his friend’s inability to keep his mouth shut, he started rubbing the back of his neck. Out of the things he had to abandon after his disbarment, this was an old habit he had never let go.

  “I hope I am not bothering you sir” Phoenix finally said to the Barman who, in response loudly laughed again.

  “Bothering me ? Look around you boy, it doesn’t seem like I’m the middle of happy hour. You are no bother to me do not worry.” He laughed again but to himself this time as he took the glass in front of Phoenix which now empty, to refill it, much to the attorney’s relief.

  “I don’t know what Larry told you but I’m afraid that I’m no pianist sir.” Phoenix said as he continue to rub the back of his neck nervously.

  “AH ! That Pianist offer…” He laughed loudly and clapped his hands together. ”Listen Pal, do you play poker pal ?” He asked his tone suddenly serious.

  “Poker ?” Phoenix sighed… He needed a job, for Trucy, for her future… “I have played some games back in college” he finally said defeated.

  “Ah a modest man, I like you already” The Barman replied as he made his way to a door which Phoenix assumed lead to the backroom. “Go sit over here old sport.” Piotr said as he pointed to a table close to an old piano in the center of the room.

  This small alone time had allowed the ex-attorney to fully take in the strange club : oddly everything was covered in snow or something Phoenix was truly and deeply hoping to be snow and not some mysterious goop he did not want to discover its nature. The walls were covered by either old photographies or by paintings yellowed by time and cigarettes. Close to the Grand piano, maybe too close for Phoenix’s liking, was a small chimney blackened by years of accumulated soot which sight made Phoenix shivers. He promised to himself that if he was going to work here, this chimney was going to be the first thing he will clean thoroughly. He had had enough of things accidentally getting on fire for at least a decade or two and this piano was not going to transform him into a burned s’more. 

  Piotr did not take too long to come back with a deck of cards in his hand.

  “Let’s see if the attorney is as good with cards as he is with the law” Piotr said as he quickly sorted the cards, a mischievous glint in his eyes which Phoenix could not tell if it was a good thing or not. 

  “Good with the law.” as innocent as Piotr had intended this comments to be, or at least that’s what Phoenix was hoping for, the attorney had still felt a sharp pang in his chest. Out of the corner of his eyes he could already see the shadowy figures of his past dangerously approach him. Sometimes it was to difficult for him to dismiss them but right now he needed to focus on the present 

  I need this job, for Trucy.

  Phoenix’s mind finally registered what the cards look like : Red, the cover of the cards was crimson red and Phoenix could not help but laugh. Wherever he goes, he followed.

  “You don’t mind me using my own cards ? I promise, I’m no cheater.” Piotr said as his eyes were focused on the cards moving swiftly in his hands. “Or perhaps you don’t like the color ? We could use my blue deck if you prefer.” He continued his gaze meeting his for a moment, that mischievous glint still in his eyes.

  Phoenix had been caught red handed and was now feeling his cheeks suddenly getting warmer.

  “No- no, actually I love this colour. It’s… It’s like an angel number.” He said as he let a small smile appear on his face. It was an Omen. A good Omen even. It was a ludicrous thought but red had always meant that good things were about to happen and as much as he hated to admit it, especially to himself, red also happened to be his favorite colour and it had absolutely no correlation with a certain prosecutor. 

  Absolutely none.

  “I am just truly impressed by the way you sort your card.” He laughed at his own inability to do the easiest thing on Earth.”Unfortunately, I am way too clumsy when I try to sort mine quickly.” His hand was rubbing the back of his neck again. He recalled the times Trucy had tried to teach him to sort a deck but every time he had started to move the cards in his hands, the cards always ended up flying in the air and land everywhere on the floor.

  Piotr scoffed and swiftly spread the cards between them. For a moment, Phoenix got an odd feeling of deja-vu which he hastily brushed away. He did not need his mind to remind this right now. He will mop around later. Now he needed to stay focus. 

  As soon as he took his cards in his hands, he felt that old familiar feeling of washing away his face with a poker mask. It was oddly natural just like when he was using his bluffing smile in court…

  The game ended as quickly as it had started. Phoenix had won and he had felt no real pride in winning it. He was simply relieved that after all, winning against Zak had not been pure unlucky coincidence but just a twisted fit of fate. His hands which were supposed to point out the truth, were actually bound to play with lies. 

  Perhaps he was truly good at poker. Perhaps playing Poker had always been what he was supposed to do… Silently he added this to the list of all the things to overthink about over a bottle of wine tonight…

  At first Piotr had seemed to be dumbfounded but then he had laughed loudly and clapped his hands together which had startled Phoenix as he had not expected to be congratulated for his apparent talent with cards. “I must say Mister Wright, I was not expecting a rookie like you to beat me that easily.” He coughed and hit his chest to help his throat let out the coughing fit. “In the twenty years I have been running this establishment, I have never seen such a talented player. I will be very pleased to have you here with me and not anywhere else.” His eyes were alight with that same mischievous glint.

  Phoenix started rubbing his neck as he felt his cheeks get warmer. Pride was growing deep in his chest. Piotr was proud of him. Someone else then Maya or Kristoph was praising him. Someone had praised the fallen attorney. Maybe working at the Borscht Bowl Club wasn’t bad idea after all… 

  Piotr suddenly got up and quickly walked back to the backroom. Leaving the attorney alone, the red cards still spread in front of him along with green and blue chips. Mindlessly, he took one card which was facing down, only he could see the small subtle patterns in dark red drawn on a the red background. 

  He smiled to himself as he turned it to see what card he had picked. 

 

  The Ace of spades.

 

  Of course it was going to be that card. Red was an omen, a good omen. Instinctively, he brought the card to his lips and closed his eyes as he savoured his victory. Perhaps tonight was not going to be a night drown in liquor…

  The clang of two glasses brought in back to reality. Piotr had come back with an half empty bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

 

  Or maybe not.

 

  “I know I told you that I had a no drinking before six policy, but this a day meant to be celebrated ! Drink with me my friend !” Piotr happily exclaimed as he poured the brown liquid into the glasses. Phoenix could not helped but gulped down. The glee that had previously taken all over his body had been washed down by pure panic. 

  He had once made a promise to himself not long after adopting Trucy, that drinking should  remain his “secret” activity. Apart from Kristoph, nobody had seen what alcohol could make him do or say. And despite knowing how miserable alcohol could make him, with it he was able to suffocate most of his problems under an heavy coat of dizziness and heavy confessions to the demons hiding in the dark corners of his room.

  He stared intensely at the drink in front of him. A voice crept up in his mind, a voice with an hint of a German accent, it whispered to him that he should celebrate his victory. His first victory since the world had turned on him… A purple shadow flashed in his mind and he finally seized his glass to toast with Piotr. 

  He should be celebrating. He was victorious after all. It was only a drink. Just one single drink. And he shouldn’t be lingering here too long anyway since he had promised Trucy that he would pick her up after school.

 

Just one drink. He told himself as he felt the cold liquid warm his throat.

Notes:

I hope y'all liked this chapter, as always, feel free to leave a comment, I love hearing peoples thoughts on the things I do, whether it's positive or negative !!

I promise Miles is coming back soon (this is a true promise, he will back as soon as I start writing the next chapter because I was intending to make this one longer but abandoned the idea because I did not want to spend more time in writing it as I was actually running out of ideas and because I didn't want to make y'all wait for the new chapter). I wanted to add a scene between Kristoph and Phoenix but I realized that I didn't know how to write his character and his relationship with Phoenix maybe later I will update this chapter and add the scene in question so stay in tune in case I change my mind out of the blue.