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Edgeworth had never been the most open. Well, perhaps as a child, but that turn towards vulnerability had long been squashed by Von Karma’s social training. He kept his secrets close to his chest, and none quite so close as his genuine feelings. If those were locked up tight, then there was less chance of having them trampled, trodden on, and betrayed.
Those were the sentiments that Edgeworth had clung to for years, turning all his attention to studies and far away from pesky emotions and memories that haunted him both day and night. So perhaps that is why he felt especially perturbed now.
It was mere days since the DL-6 case had been re-trialed, since those memories had resurfaced and the old trauma returned to haunt him once more with a vengeance. An old, familiar face, whom he found a mere blight on his record, suddenly became his saving grace. And worst of all, Edgeworth had admitted forbidden feelings, feelings he had repressed for years, to rise to the surface.
Stupid. It was stupid and utterly foolish to let his mind linger on that one uttered phrase for so long, especially when Wright had easily accepted the statement and focused on more important matters. Wright hadn’t been bogged down by the confession, instead seeming to have gained newfound energy in arguing Edgeworth’s case. But still, Edgeworth found himself regretting those two simple words that had slipped long into the midnight hours.
Before he fully registered that his fingers were moving, Edgeworth had begun typing at his keyboard. A travel website was easily pulled up, showing flights to Germany from Japanifornia. He clicked the most recent flight, purchasing it on impulse.
He automatically moved to his closet, taking out a suitcase and beginning to pack. His motions were almost robotic, with no real thought behind his actions. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew this was irrational, borne from a childish notion that fleeing the country would allow his mind to relax, to view the ‘problem’ of his emotions from a new angle and compartmentalize instead of being so overwhelmed. But the real crux was that he was running away from facing that man, the one who had ushered all these feelings in the first place.
The seconds turned to minutes, minutes turned to an hour, and Edgeworth stood back to assess his packing job properly. It was pristine, his clothes neatly folded with not one line out of place. He hummed in satisfaction and zipped it closed, allowing himself to let out a yawn right as the zipper wrapped fully around the suitcase.
He brought up his wristwatch and stiffened at seeing the time. Five minutes till midnight. He sighed, realizing he must have overestimated how much time was left in the night.
Edgeworth turned off the lights and gradually wrapped himself under the covers of his bedspread, taking several even breaths until he fell asleep.
“Hey, Miles! Miles, wake up!”
Edgeworth groaned and rolled back the blankets over his head, readying his sternest scowl to narrow on whoever dared to bother him in his own house. He sat up, glaring fiercely…then his expression softened into confusion.
Standing by his bedside, with a look so cheerful it bordered on adoration, was Phoenix Wright. Or at least, someone Edgeworth assumed to be him. They were wearing a ridiculous outfit, one Edgeworth had hoped never to see again. He wore an oversized pink sweater with a red heart in the middle, along with a locket. Blue jeans and a tight medical mask completed the look, and the entire ensemble was lit by a faint glow that completely surrounded the man.
“Wright?” Edgeworth guessed, blinking slowly.
“Yep! Well, one version of me,” The figure nodded, with an insufferably lovable smile. “I am Phoenix Wright from the past, but you can just call me Feenie!”
Edgeworth frowned, an old Christmas tale instantly coming to mind. He didn’t think he was that similar to Scrooge, but he supposed that this must all be some sort of dream, and logic didn’t tend to follow the same rules between the worlds of sleep and reality.
“I see.” Edgeworth stiffly rose from his bed, grabbing a nearby nightgown and fastening it over his pajamas. “I suppose you have something to show me?”
“Wow, so smart! You really haven’t changed, Miles.” Feenie laughed, and Miles tried desperately to ignore how his heart skipped a beat at the bell-like sound.
“Yes, I have to take you back to the past.” Feenie grinned, extending his hand towards Miles. “Are you ready?”
Edgeworth hesitated, unsure if he really wanted to retrace his steps down memory lane. His past was a source of multiple nightmares and days of unease, but it looked like Feenie would just patiently wait until Edgeworth was willing to accompany them. Edgeworth might as well get this over with sooner rather than later.
He slowly reached out to take Feenie’s hand, and Feenie eagerly wrapped their fingers together the second he did. Edgeworth’s eyes widened, stunned at the sensation. Their body was transparent, the fingers barely holding their form beside Edgeworth’s palms, but he could feel warmth emanating from them nevertheless—soaking his skin in something indescribably pleasant.
“Let’s go!” Feenie said, gently leading Edgeworth to the window. Edgeworth brought an arm up, expecting to crash into the glass, but the two of them somehow managed to pass straight through it like nothing was there. Edgeworth gasped, eyes wide as they floated several feet above the rooftops of buildings in his neighborhood. He recalled seeing a similar scene in the movie adaptation of that one Christmas story. Still, it was an altogether different experience to have it happen to himself, to feel the wind whipping his hair back and see the world from such terrifying heights.
Suddenly, the speed at which they moved began to accelerate until the buildings were nothing but a blur of colors and shapes beneath them. The night sky turned into a bright spring afternoon, and Edgeworth found himself inside a tiny classroom.
There was a rowdy chorus of children screaming, surrounding one unfortunate, distraught child. Edgeworth felt his lips tighten, recognizing the scene immediately. The self-righteous indignation he had felt back then was still fresh in his mind, and it only took seconds for him to see his younger self rise to the young Phoenix Wright’s defense.
“That was the moment we became real friends,” Feenie sighed, and Edgeworth chuckled at the fondness in Feenie’s tone. Seems like past Phoenix was just as attached to this memory as Edgeworth himself.
More scenes continued to flash by them, of Edgeworth playing with Phoenix and Larry Butz after school, going on mini adventures, and even finding an adorable dog. Edgeworth found a smile growing on his face, wistful over these old, pleasant times with his childhood friends.
But not everything from his past was so…cheery. The positive reminiscences were cut short far too soon, as Edgeworth found himself viewing his father’s death from two perspectives at once.
Younger Edgeworth picked up the gun that had fallen to the elevator floor and fired once.
BANG
Edgeworth flinched, looking away. He knew now that the shot had pierced through the elevator door, had hit Manfred Von Karma, who shot his father mere seconds later. He couldn’t watch that scene take place again, not when it was the most prescient memory in every nightmare he’d had.
Von Karma had taken in Edgeworth after that day and had started his strict instructions on prosecutorial lessons even though Edgeworth was only six at the time. Edgeworth stiffened, readying himself for one particularly noteworthy memory that was swiftly approaching.
“What is it you’re doing?”
Young Edgeworth jumped, quickly straightening from a stooped slouch at his desk.
“Just…writing,” the young boy said, looking away from the harsh stare on Von Karma’s face.
“Writing what? To whom?” Von Karma’s questions shot out, straightforward as the bullets from a gun.
“To my friends!” Young Edgeworth replied, face heating up with resolution. “So, they know why I left!”
Von Karma harrumphed, an indignant, perplexed sound that resounded through every cell in Edgeworth’s body.
“What about those books I told you to study? How much progress have you made?” Von Karma motioned to the pile of thick tomes on the desk, and young Edgeworth gulped.
“I was going to read those later….”
Manfred struck his cane down against the floor, hard, and young Edgeworth flinched.
“The first lesson you must learn here, is ‘never put off until tomorrow what can be done today.’” Von Karma sneered, eyeing the letters with disdain. “If you can finish all your readings by the end of today, then maybe you will have time to write.”
Young Edgeworth bent his head, dejected, as Von Karma left. The pile was far too heavy, and as days passed by, it only seemed to grow and grow until the letters eventually slid to some dusty alcove of Edgeworth’s study, untouched and forgotten.
“That Von Karma…” Feenie shook his head, a rare frown on his face. “To give a lesson like that, then force you to put off that task for far longer…what a cruel sense of irony.”
Edgeworth nodded, silently walking over to the letters. While he couldn’t speak or interact with the people here, he was able to pick up the papers and flip them over, reading what his younger self had written. A pang settled in his chest; at the solemn farewell messages he had written in the past. Even then, Edgeworth seemed to realize that Von Karma meant to cut those ties of friendship forever.
More years passed, and Edgeworth managed to gradually earn praise and recognition from Von Karma himself. He eventually ended up at the same university his stepfather once attended, following the same exact career course: prosecution.
“We’re almost at the end now,” Feenie murmured, and Edgeworth jerked to attention. He had been following the scenes of his past with lowered attention, going through automatic movements much like his younger self was during these years. Just following Von Karma’s orders, staying out of his sister’s way, and trying to ignore how Von Karma threw envelopes with familiar handwriting into the trash with their junk mail. It was easier to disassociate with everything around him, to stop resisting and just obey. That was the main glue that kept Edgeworth’s sanity together, whilst living under that roof.
But if these visions of the past were ending, that could only mean one thing. And sure enough, his presuppositions soon came to pass.
A newly graduated, licensed Edgeworth was walking through the halls of a courtroom lobby, with the kind of smirk that could only be learned from Von Karma. A newfound confidence filled his steps, bordering on arrogance. He’d passed his first trial with flying colors, had quickly put the young Miss Fey in her place. He felt on top of the world, and nothing could change that….nothing, except for one thing.
A familiar laughter sounded down the halls, and his eyes perked up. With a fierce intensity, he dashed towards the sound, grey eyes so wild that they made the others in his path dart away with a yelp. Paying them no heed, he continued to stride until he reached a small library on the lower floor, then hid himself behind a column.
There, in clear view for all to see, was Feenie in the flesh beside a beautiful young woman. With fiery red hair, a pastel dress and a fluttery aura around her, it was impossible not to recognize the very witness Edgeworth had just called upon in his case moments ago. While he felt some level of gratitude towards her service, his fists instinctually tightened, and there was an undeniable envy at seeing the way his old friend laughed beside her. Edgeworth glowered at them for several seconds, before shaking his head and going back the way he’d come.
“You never said anything about seeing me there!” Feenie gasped beside the older Edgeworth.
Edgeworth was stunned. It had hit him, just now, how easily he could’ve helped Wright avoid the future grief and heartache Dahlia would cause him. How if he had taken mere moments to reach out, to say hello, to write a letter or call, something, he might have saved Wright from his fate.
“I was so selfish.” He said bitterly, shaking his head as he walked beside Feenie. “I was so focused on myself; I didn’t even take a few minutes to be there for my friends…”
The scene shifted to inside a courtroom, this time a trial taking place between Ms. Fey and Payne. Edgeworth saw Feenie eat glass, and shuddered…it was horrible, especially when he realized there was nothing, he could do to stop this fate.
“Why show me all this?” Edgeworth turned on Feenie, who had suddenly turned quiet. “Why put me through this torment?”
Feenie’s smile was sad. “It’s not meant to be torment…just to show you, that your presence means something.”
Edgeworth blinked, and Feenie patiently continued.
“You’ve been feeling like you need to run, to leave those you care about because you’re burdening them, right?” Feenie shook his head. “But you don’t seem to know that they’re actually the ones relying on you, not the other way around.”
“But how can that be?” Edgeworth murmured, the scene now changed to Mia comforting past Feenie. “I can’t be expressive like Wright; I don’t know all the right words or even remember how to connect with others…how could anyone need someone like me?”
“You’ll have to find those answers yourself.” Feenie smiled, and a whirlwind of snow suddenly started to surround the two of them. Edgeworth brought up his arms to cover his eyes, shivering under the intense cold, and could just make out Feenie’s form disappearing.
Edgeworth awoke with a gasp from his bed and looked at his clock. Six a.m. Just enough time to order a taxi to his house and arrive at the airport to check in before his nine-a.m. flight.
He quickly rose from the covers and made his way to the wardrobe, taking out his reliable white shirt with the cravat, along with his burgundy suit. He dressed and was about to grab his suitcase when he found himself face to face with Phoenix Wright—and walked right through him.
“Again?!” Edgeworth groaned, raising a hand to smack against his head. Phoenix grinned in front of him, undeniably the same one Edgeworth knew from the present. That blue suit, red tie, and spiked up hair could only belong to one man. But unlike the one that defended him in court days before, this one seemed to have lost his body of flesh.
“Am I supposed to accompany you for more lessons?” Edgeworth grumbled, and Phoenix laughed.
“Yes, but it won’t be quite so long this time! Just one quick little peek at what the real me is up to, that’s all.”
“Oh really? That’s all?” Edgeworth mocked, crossing his arms with a smirk. “You spirits don’t seem very considerate of people’s plans.”
“It won’t take that long, just stop complaining.” Wright sighed, sweat drops falling. Edgeworth couldn’t help but chuckle at that familiar sight…some things really never changed with Wright.
“Very well. Let’s go then.” Edgeworth extended his hand, and Wright happily accepted it. They traveled much faster than with Feenie, Edgeworth getting the sense that the past Wright wanted to take things slower. He wondered if that also matched the Wrights’ perspectives…if Feenie appreciated Edgeworth more because he had lost contact entirely, and Wright mistakenly took his company for granted now that he’d been saved.
They arrived at the Wright Law Offices, and Edgeworth slowly let go of Wright’s hand and walked in himself. He had never actually been here before, accepting Wright’s services while in a jail cell. And now that he had the chance to look around, he couldn’t help admiring how orderly everything looked. He was unsure how much of the décor was from Phoenix, or just left over from Mia, but he appreciated Wright’s efforts towards cleanliness, nevertheless. There was also a magnificent plant in the corner that Edgeworth could tell was well loved, which was surprising. He never figured Wright would have a green thumb.
Phoenix himself came walking through the front door a few seconds later, and Edgeworth once again mentally reprimanded himself. How dare his heartbeat race faster when all the man had done was just square his muscles…shrug off that blue coat like it was nothing…flex arms that wore a white button down so well…okay, maybe he really was losing his mind.
Phoenix walked over to the main desk and sat, placing his head in his hands with a sigh. “Well, now Maya’s gone back home.” Phoenix murmured to himself aloud. “Guess it’s just me again…”
Edgeworth followed the line of Phoenix’s eyes and felt a painful pang as he realized Wright was eyeing a photograph of Mia on the desk. It felt like he was intruding, to see Wright processing grief, and Edgeworth took a step back.
“I wonder how Edgeworth is doing.” Phoenix smiled, and Edgeworth felt his heart twist in his chest again. “I hope his new year is going better than mine.”
Phoenix typed in a few notes in his computer, filing away some unimportant documents and doing general busy work, before speaking to himself again. This time in a murmur so quiet, Edgeworth barely caught it.
“Maybe I should invite him for drinks tonight…” Phoenix whispered, then shook his head, his cheeks reddening. “N-no, Edgeworth should be the one to reach out…whenever he’s ready.”
Edgeworth frowned, then backed entirely out of the office. He turned to where the ghost of Phoenix present was waiting, an insufferable grin on it’s face.
“You seem to be laying on the message very thick.” Edgeworth grunted. “I suppose this time, the lesson is “to take the initiative?”
“Something like that.” Phoenix smirked. “It’s that your friends don’t just need you, they want to be around you. And not even your sourest glare can change that.”
Edgeworth stiffened, realizing he had been glaring hard right as the spirit Phoenix spoke. He scowled, then tried to force a lopsided smile so he wouldn’t be called out again.
“Fine.” Edgeworth sighed. “Well, if that’s all, can we get the last vision out of the way already?”
“Not yet…” Spirit Phoenix chuckled, then the same snowy wind that had surrounded Feenie and Edgeworth before returned. This time Edgeworth tried to brace through it, swiftly blinking snow laden eyelids to try and catch the moment everything returned to normal. But as Phoenix disappeared, his form became one of glowing light, and Edgeworth was completely blinded as the world around them disappeared.
Edgeworth opened his eyes to find himself in his bedroom once more. He had fallen asleep on an armchair by his bed, and quickly rose, pressed his suit down to iron out any potential wrinkles, then carried his suitcase down the stairs.
He made himself breakfast then waited outside, checking his watch until the taxi arrived. 7:10 a.m. Still plenty of time to make it through security, especially when he had purchased a TSA priority membership several years ago.
The yellow taxicab arrived at his door shortly, and Edgeworth got into the backseat with his carry-on luggage in tow, sparing only a few short glances and the airport address with the driver. He was trying his best not to worry about the two dreams he’d had, and their potential meanings. He was wont to give in to superstitions, but there was a nagging voice in the back of his head that said they carried more import than they seemed.
Well, if he remained awake despite his drowsiness right now, perhaps he could avoid the final vision from occurring. So, Edgeworth fought back closing eyelids, bit his lip and pinched his skin in an effort to stay awake, but it was no use.
The environment outside the taxicab turned grey, the skies darkening and lightning crashing over the bridge they drove on. Edgeworth gasped, shocked that clouds had managed to gather so quickly, but when he turned back to see the other backseat passenger in the taxicab, he realized the weather might have supernatural causes.
The seat that had been empty mere seconds ago now held a man in a grey hood, face covered in darkness. Edgeworth gulped, fearful, yet a slight hope in his voice, nevertheless.
“Are you…Wright, too?”
The hooded figure laughed, but it was nothing like the dulcet tones of Feenie or the pleasantly mischievous chuckles of his present-day Phoenix. These were chords borne from misery, all rough edges and discordance, no melody. Edgeworth shivered and leaned slightly away from the man.
“That’s a name I no longer go by.” The man said, the words sounding hollow and terrible in Edgeworth’s ears. “You may call me ‘Future.’”
“I see.” Edgeworth fought to regain his composure, returning to his former stiff tone to cloak himself in familiarity. “And what is it you have to show me?”
Future was silent for a long while, making Edgeworth wonder if he should repeat the question. Then, slowly, he lifted an arm out from the pockets of his hood and held it out towards Edgeworth.
Edgeworth hesitated, eyeing the hand with an emotion akin but not quite the same as sadness. The tanned skin was familiar, as were the curves of each finger, but the callouses they bore, and the subtle scars were all new. These were hands of someone who had worked, really worked, hand over fist for what they had. They were hands of someone who had been scratched, had been punched, had been attacked yet not fought back. There were so many intricate lines and stories to be told in just the hands alone, but Edgeworth doubted this Future fellow would be at all keen in divulging them.
So, with a beating heart, Edgeworth nodded and met Future’s hand with his own.
The two of them stood within the taxicab, then rose, their bodies effortlessly passing through the metal confines of the vehicle. They drifted slowly, much slower than with Feenie even, and Edgeworth’s eyes widened as he saw how the future had subtly changed. More billboards rose up, crowding out the sky, and several of them held advertisements for law firms. Even as they floated above, he could see alleys with dark meetings occurring, violence in the streets, robberies with citizens being held at gun point. He shuddered, wondering where he and Phoenix fit inside all this mess.
They finally stop at an office building, and Edgeworth barely recognizes it as the place where present Phoenix had taken him before. The plaster on the walls was starting to crack, vines growing all the way up the side of the building. Several of the windows were dimmed or fogged up with dust, and as they entered the inner corridors, it seemed the halls weren’t in any better condition. When they reached the former Wright Law Offices, Edgeworth had to take a step back to read the new title.
“Wright…Anything, Agencies?” Edgeworth whispered, his eyebrows knotting up as he frowned. “That wasn’t the name before…”
Future remained quiet, so Edgeworth helped himself inside.
Instantly, he was taken aback by the sense of chaos around him. There were several odds and ends propped up on the shelves, desk, and couches that had once been so neatly organized and cleaned. The potted plant he had admired before was still taken care of but pushed into a corner as if more of an afterthought. Props that all seemed to be for magic shows, like hoops, boxes, hats and colored string, were all over the place, and Edgeworth found himself wondering where clients sat when visiting the office.
A young girl with a blue hat and cape came bouncing through the other office door, and Edgeworth jumped at her presence. She seemed to be around 12 years of age, and she was looking around like she had lost something, but it was an object she was well accustomed to looking for.
“Daddy?” She called, and Edgeworth suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Daddy!” She grinned, and Edgeworth turned to see a man walk through the door.
No. It couldn’t be. But it was…even with the grey hoodie, blue beanie and the days old stubble on his face, Edgeworth still knew that face anywhere.
Phoenix walked in, looking more tired than Edgeworth had ever seen him. The dark circles under his eyes, the sallow cheeks that told Edgeworth he’d missed several meals, and the bottle that poked through the folds of his hoodie pocket were all surefire signs that this Phoenix was not at his best.
“Hiya, Truce.” Phoenix’s voice sounded casual, but Edgeworth could tell the light-hearted tone was forced. “Daddy brought home a new paycheck…and guess what? We’ll have some money left after rent.”
“Yay!” The young girl, who Edgeworth supposed to be ‘Truce,’ jumped up excitedly. “How much left? Is it more than the $50 last time?”
Phoenix grimaced and shook his head. “Lower…but hey, at least I got free grape juice!” He set the bottle from his pocket onto the table with a lopsided grin.
The girl frowned. “This is no laughing matter, Daddy…you can barely afford to keep living here, at this rate!”
Edgeworth had been mentally trying to deal with the fact that Phoenix had a daughter but now had a new issue to fixate on. Did Wright actually live at his law offices? And with a young daughter, no less?
He rushed out of the main office and found out quickly that the girl was correct. There was a sleeping bag by the foot of Phoenix’s desk, and the small kitchen, bathroom and supply closet had been furnished into a living space for two, the supply closet holding a twin-size mattress and several items Edgeworth assumed belonged to the daughter.
Edgeworth returned to the scene to see Phoenix hugging the girl close, a guilty expression on his face.
“I’m sorry, Trucy.” Phoenix mumbled, and Edgeworth realized that it was the girl’s real name.
“I wish I could give you a better home…a better life, than this.” Phoenix sighed, and Trucy quickly shook her head.
“No, don’t worry! I love being here with you, that’s all I want!” she reached her arms around Phoenix, hugging him back so he couldn’t see the moisture rising to her eyes. “Just promise you’ll never leave me, Daddy.”
“I promise.” Phoenix’s tone was grave, and Edgeworth could tell he meant it down to his core.
Edgeworth retreated the intimate scene, once again finding himself face to face with Future. The hood still concealed most of his face, but his eyes were less cloudy than before, allowing Edgeworth to confirm that it was indeed Wright underneath there.
“Future, where am I? Why haven’t I helped Wright, with any of this?!” Edgeworth demanded.
Future slowly raised their arm, and a cloud of smoke rose to follow their movements. Edgeworth waved away the fog until it had cleared, seeing himself besought by a crowd of reporters right outside his office building.
“Edgeworth, how does it feel to become the new Chief Prosecutor?” a woman with a huge camera demanded, and Edgeworth felt his jaw slacken in shock.
“It is a great privilege and honor, of course.” Future Edgeworth responded, looking askance at the reporter. “One I hope I can deserve.”
“And what of your rival, losing his badge?” A balding man near the back shouted, to be heard over the onslaught of other questions. “What are your thoughts on that?!”
Both present and future Edgeworth’s stiffened, the question landing like a sucker punch.
“It is…a shame,” future Edgeworth answered after several moments, turning aside. “One that I should like to rectify.”
“Is it true, then, that he will use his ties with you to avoid the justice system’s penalty?!” several reporters asked, turning their mics onto Edgeworth with accusatory glares.
Future Edgeworth was lost for words, shaking his head numbly. “That’s not at all what I’m implying…I just think the penalty was rushed, and the whole trial needs to be looked over again—”
“But you wouldn’t give any other defense lawyers such benefits, would you?” A reporter girl with wide glasses smirked at him. “After all, you made many other lawyers lose their badges like that in the past…”
Future Edgeworth’s face reddened, then paled, as he forced down his emotions. “I’ll take more questions later.” Turning on his heel, he marched towards the office doors, trying his best to ignore the ongoing questions aimed at his back.
Edgeworth’s fists clenched, and he quickly realized the importance of being shown this. His future self’s hands were tied, constantly having his actions followed by the press at every waking moment. If he gave Wright any legal or financial assistance, that could put him and Trucy in even more trouble than they already were in.
“So, Wright lost his badge, somehow.” Edgeworth shook his head, unable to believe it. “There must have been foul play involved.”
“Are you so sure?” Future asked him, the hood down fully to reveal the blue beanie and the tired, sad eyes of Edgeworth’s future friend. “Maybe I deserved it. Maybe the me you knew changed.”
“No. I refuse to accept that.” Edgeworth scowled, crossing his arms stubbornly. “Wright may have had unique methods in court, such as cross-examining a parrot…but I don’t believe he would ever cross a line that would lead to losing his badge. I will not and can not believe that to be true.”
“That’s how I felt…about you,” came soft words, and Edgeworth whirled around to see Feenie had returned.
“Yes, and it was your stalwart trust in me, your constant efforts to reach out, that helped me escape my tormented past.” Edgeworth smiled.
“And now, it’s your turn.” Edgeworth glanced over to see that present Phoenix was standing there as well, the three different Phoenix’s surrounding him in a semi-circle.
“My turn for what?” Edgeworth asked.
“To be there for me.” Future answered. He gave Edgeworth an open, unguarded look, one that made him look more like Feenie than his weary self. “To call at night, to leave letters, to just remain.”
“Please don’t leave again.” Present Phoenix spoke, and Edgeworth could hear he was on the verge of tears. “I need you, more than anyone else, beside me.”
Edgeworth clutched at his shirt, feeling his own heart crack at the sound of such sincerity. He squinted his eyes tight, trying to fight the onrush of emotions that threatened to bubble out all at once.
“I won’t,” he whispered, then slowly, blinked open his eyes.
He was no longer outside his office building. There were no longer any Phoenixes, eyeing him as if their hearts would tear in two at any moment.
He was back inside the taxicab, and the airport was only seconds away.
Edgeworth reached over the chair, his eyes darting forward like a mad man’s. “Wait! I’ve changed my mind; I need you to drive me to a new location!”
The taxi driver frowned. “Didn’t you say you had a flight to catch?”
“I just recalled some far more important plans.” Edgeworth smiled. “Can you drive me to the Wright Law Offices? Here’s the address…”
It was exactly 9 a.m. when the taxi pulled into the office, and Edgeworth rolled out his tiny suitcase before the glass doors. It was now far too late to cancel his flight and get the money back, or to catch it in the first place, but he didn’t really give a damn. Right now, he had one priority only: and that was to see his rival, no, friend.
Lugging the suitcase was surprisingly difficult while walking up two sets of stairs, and Edgeworth found himself panting and out of breath by the time he finally made it to Wright’s office door. He knocked twice, then tried not to laugh at the bewildered expression on Wright’s face as he arrived to open it.
“Edgeworth?” Phoenix gasped, eyeing Edgeworth up and down. “Why are you here so early in the morning? And what’s with the suitcase, you moving in or something?”
“Nothing quite so extravagant as that.” Edgeworth smirked. “I just wanted to ask you something.”
“Oh, really? You came all this way for that? You know cell phones are this great invention, they were invented fairly recently—”
“Wright. Stop talking.”
Wright shut his mouth, and Edgeworth laughed. “I just wanted to know if you’d accompany me for drinks tonight. My treat?”
Wright stared in awe for several moments, but slowly his confusion warped itself into a warm, joyous smile.
“I’d really like that.”