( No Title )
In Justice We Trust (144638 words) by thesavagesabretooth
With Simon Blackquill and Athena Cykes assigned as their psychologists, the Phantom and Fulbright must grapple with their identity, their deeds, their future, and their love for the twisted samurai whom they betrayed.
All the while, Edgeworth and Wright find their relationship tested as they walk the narrow path between pursuing real justice, and the dark age of the law.
–
December 25, 5:20 pm
So it’s real. It’s all real. I really am Bobby Fulbright.
It certainly puts a fresh perspective on things.
Halbicht was lost in their own thoughts as they followed Simon, Agent Ash, and Apollo justice out of the room to give Metis Cykes and her daughter a few minutes of privacy.
Agent Ash was fixing her makeup thoughtfully as she walked out of the room.
“…I’d heard about it, I’d always had a little faith in the supernatural, but seeing it firsthand like that…” She whistled. “…We’ll have to have the girl try to channel Kelso, see what happens to our suspect….or at least see if she can recognize a spirit inside someone.”
Simon was still drying his eyes with the back of his sleeve. Robert grabbed his arm to stop him, and pressed the handkerchief from his pocket into Simon’s hand.
“Here, Prosecutor Blackquill.”
“Thank you, detective,” he murmured. He dabbed his eyes with the cloth. “That was… a powerful experience. Ash-dono, I am sure that our young medium will be able to help in some way at least.”
“Yeah….” Apollo murmured. He stumbled, and caught himself on the wall. Halblicht watched him closely. He seemed disoriented. “I’m gonna go uh, I gotta– I’ll be in the restroom.”
As he limped off without waiting for an answer, they followed him with their gaze.
It was a shocking experience for anybody, I guess, Bobby mused.
Perhaps. At least the matter between us is settled. Of your reality at least.“I hope so.” Sheila watched Apollo slip away with a quiet expression of concern, and a murmured “poor kid” before she went back to applying her makeup. A nervous habit, maybe, given the way her smile seemed forced.
“I’m sure she can. The Small Medium at Large has quite the kick.” she looked up at Simon. “…you gonna be okay? Seeing someone you care about back from the dead…it’s..” she went back to applying her lipstick before she murmured “gotta be one hell of a trip.”
“A hell of a trip indeed, Ash-dono!” Simon barked a laugh, and Halblicht found the prosecutor suddenly half draped on their arm. Surprised, they put it around his shoulders to steady him.
“Easy there, sir,” Bobby murmured. He was almost overwhelmed himself, tears threatening to spill from his eyes just in sympathy and stress at the whole event, but Robert helped hold on to him.
A regular conga line of emotional support, Robert thought dryly.
“I wouldn’t know. People I watch die? Stay dead.” Ash drawled with a dry laugh and a smirk “…except Kelso, perhaps.”
She snapped her compact shut and shoved it in her pocket. “You look like you’re about to fall over. I could get you a chair…though Detective Prime Time’s doing an admirable job.”
“I’m happy to help in any way that I can, Agent Ash,” Bobby promised with a sad smile. “If you’d like to faint, I can happily catch you.”
“Very tempting, Prime Time.” She laughed, pushing her hand through her hair with the old wolfish grin “Watch out, I might take you up on it.”
“Thankfully, I have two arms, ma’am!” he saluted with his free one, to demonstrate. Bobby was riding high on the emotional power of his own confirmed reality, and Robert was swimming in the backwash. Too much so to even protest his silly behavior.
Simon came through for him however. “You’re ridiculous as always, Fool Bright.” He sniffed into the handkerchief. “This is hardly the time for your witless shenanigans.”
“Ah, and there goes my classic tv- faint.” Sheila sighed performatively, and instead dropped herself against the wall “I’d say we all earned the right to laugh while we can.”
“Well, our ghost of honor was certainly laughing I suppose,” Simon admitted.
“You made it sound like she was always like that,” Bobby commented, curious.
“Oh yes. She always had a very dark sense of humor. Perhaps some of it rubbed off on me.”
“A woman after my own heart.” Ash put her hand to her chest “she was a big influence on you, Samurai?”
“The biggest of my life,” he said. “Especially if you include the film library that she shared with me.”
“Ah! So that’s where your love of the samurai comes from, Prosecutor Blackquill?” Bobby beamed at him.
“It reinforced the latent urge, I’m sure,” he drawled.
“Ahhhh….” Sheila snickered “it awakened the soul of the samurai in yo—– no I can’t finish that sentence!”
She broke out laughing in another fit as the door to the private room Athena and Metis had entered opened, and a tear-stained but smiling Athena came slowly walking out with the ‘Small Medium at Large’ trailing behind her.
Bobby snapped to a salute. “Ms. Athena! And Ms. Fey– thank you very much for helping us.”
“No problem!” Pearl snapped a salute back to him with a little smile, but Bobby could tell that she looked tired.
Do you think channeling a spirit is draining for her, Bobby? I’ve never noticed a problem like that between you and I– except accounting for the normal level of exhausted you make me.
Aw, Robert! But um, no, it seems like you’re right.
“Are the pair of you alright?” Bobby asked.
Athena wiped at her eyes.
“Y-yeah. I just had to get some stuff off my chest. It was nice to speak with her again. She looked over her shoulder. “…thanks Pearl. It meant the world to me.”
“Of course, Miss Athena! Any time!” Pearl chirped out, despite her obvious fatigue.
“We’ll have to plan that party for when Aura is out of jail,” Simon drawled. He leaned against Bobby’s arm, seemingly unconcerned with disentangling himself for now. Bobby certainly wasn’t going to push him away.
“So…” the young medium asked. “What’s next? Confirming possessions, right?”
“I’d say…” Athena looked at the two of them with a half smile and a wave. She’d gone a little flushed, but seemed, admittedly, happy in their direction.
“That’s right, Small Medium at Large.” Agent Ash purred. “…but you look tired, hon. You think you can push through?”
“I’m okay!” She nodded. “Seeing ghosts doesn’t take energy the way that channeling them does. I can just… you know… see them. So as long as you trust my judgment, we’re all set!”
Bobby and Robert were not unaware that Pearl had glanced rather significantly in their direction as she spoke.
“After that display? I’ll trust you to the ends of the earth, kid.” Sheila laughed, glancing sidelong at Robert and Bobby. “Do you boys need confirmation? Or should I take Pearl here to lockup?”
“Oh ah…and to Mr. Apollo.” Athena whispered to her– though in the empty hall it was easy to hear.
“Why don’t we hear from Ms. Fey– just for the official paperwork, so to speak,” Robert said. He glanced between the medium and Simon.
Wait– did she just say Apollo? Bobby blinked internally in surprise– though it may have shown on their face.
So she did.
That’s not a joke? But why would he…
“Why not indeed,” Simon nodded.
Pearl chewed on her thumb, and nodded. “Uhuh. I can say for sure. I noticed it right away when I came in to breakfast at the hotel this morning. I was gonna ask Miss. Athen about it.”
Athena slapped her hands on her cheeks in surprise. “OH! woah, I guess we had the same idea! We were gonna come find you about it…that…”
Simon said nothing, but favored Halblicht with a rather smug smirk
“Thank you for the confirmation, Ms. Fey,” Bobby sniffled. “It means a lot.”
Athena glanced at them with a muted but genuine smile “…yeah , that makes a lotta sense. And…And for Apollo?”
Pearl chewed on her fingertips.
“Um…Should I wait until–” She paused as Halblicht heard the sound of footsteps coming around the corner.
It was Apollo Justice returning.
His hair’s wet, Robert observed.
Maybe staring at his face in the mirror and splashing it, Bobby suggested. I know the feeling.Athena nervously tugged her ponytail with a bright smile his way. “Hey ah…Apollo? Did…did you want to hear what Pearl had to say?”
Apollo shrugged stiffly. His whole body posture was tense. “I already heard the answer from Trucy last night. I don’t have any reason to doubt it now.”
While Apollo didn’t specifically say yes or no, the answer was obvious. If there wasn’t a ghost, there was nothing to tell him. But he’d been told. Therefore.
But what ghost?
Robert– it has to be Clay Terran.
Ah.
Halblicht and Apollo’s eyes met.
Simon, meanwhile, shifted his posture. “You as well, Mr. Justice?”
Apollo shrugged.
Athena clapped her hands together with a bright smile and an attempt at levity. “Today’s a rare kind of day huh? Possessions popping out of the wordwork, it’s like spirit week! Hah…haha..”
“Yeah, um, it’s actually kind of been freaking me out,” Pearl murmured, still chewing on her thumb. “It was super weird to see it with Apollo, but then with Mr. Halblicht too? Like, no offense Miss Agent Ash but if I see a third possessed person today, I might do a little scream.”
“Whoopsie.” Sheila laughed as she leaned over and rustled Pearl’s hair. “Scream as much as you need to, Small Medium at Large– because I might have a dead agent I need you to ID just over there.” She gestured towards the hall that lead to the holding cells.
Pearl nodded, and rolled up her sleeves. “Lead me to ‘em!”
“That does bring up a rather odd question, though,” Simon said. “Why so many ghosts? Why these ghosts?”
“Maybe we should confirm Kelso one way or the other before we ask that question,” Robert said.
She’s got to be possessed though, right? How else would she know all about Kelso?
I have no idea, but I don’t like jumping to conclusions.
December 25, 5:45 pm
Only Agent Ash and Pearl went into the cell with the captured asset, and that left Simon standing outside with Athena, Halblicht, and Apollo.
Surrounded by ghosts on all sides. Not what I expected when I started the morning.
He felt a little bad for Athena– he knew his emotions were everywhere, and he was sure that she could sense it. From the joy of the reunion and revelation with Bobby– and Robert– to the accompanying joy and sorrow of the brief reunion with his mentor. To confusion at this newest strange revelation with Apollo.
The girl didn’t look unhappy…she had a small and muted little smile on her face like she’d worn once upon a time…but she did look tired. The emotional bombardment of the day had clearly taken its toll.
She wasn’t projecting as much outward ‘energy’ as she leaned on the wall and watched the door with concern and curiosity.
He couldn’t blame her. He didn’t know if this day, or the 20th, or that day so many years ago was the most overwhelming day of their lives– but it was a close race no matter which.
They all stood quietly. No one seemed ready to start a conversation, not even Bobby. Perhaps Bobby least of all, for once
There’d be time to talk later. At least Apollo– or Clay, it seemed– hadn’t assaulted him again.
Eventually, the cell door opened, and Agent Ash and Pearl Fey emerged.
Pearl held her hands up, and in a very small, deliberately indoor voice, spoke out a scream. “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!”
“….Oh.” Athena put her hand to her cheek “I guess that answers that question.”
Sheila walked out with a furrowed brow and a forced smile as she let the door slam behind her.
She raised her hands up, and echoed the medium’s sentiment with an “Arrrgh’ of her own.
“This is going to be the worst, strangest paperwork of my life…. And I had to write entire fake family trees.”
Simon touched his chin thoughtfully. “Just how does one do the paperwork on this? And I reiterate, why in heaven’s name is this happening? Not that I’m complaining.”
“I wish I knew,” Pearl squeaked.
Athena bit her lip.
“…I can’t speak for Apollo’s situation, but I have a working theory on Halblicht and …ah..” She gestured to the door, “… Kelso24.”
Sheila rubbed her temples. “…whatever’s going on, it’s utter madness. Three ghosts all wrapped up in the same damned interpol investigation. Maybe more! Who knows who else is packing! At least it means Agent Kelso isn’t…gone? But still!”
Pearl nodded. “I’m sorry I don’t have much more information. I really only know a lot about ghosts from the perspective of the Kurain tradition. So mostly when it comes to possessed people I only know how to, you know… get rid of them.”
“Kindly don’t do any of that at this point, Fey-dono,” Simon said quickly. He pushed down the sting of panic that accompanied the thought of someone banishing Bobby, now, after everything.
December 25, 5:55 pm
Athena watched Bobby move a reassuring hand to Simon’s shoulder as he replied to Pearl.
“Yeah,” Apollo murmured in agreement. “Not right now.”
“Yeah…” Sheila held her hands up. “I’d rather we don’t. Frankly, I think this whole thing necessitates a change of plans regarding Miss 24.”
Athena bit her lip, her hand going to her chest. She didn’t chime in out loud, but…she couldn’t help but agree with Simon. The thought of banishing the spirits only sent pings of worry and sadness through her muffled emotions.
If nothing else, she was pretty sure the former assets might need them to adapt and heal from their upbringing…and Apollo’s ‘friend’, who she was certain was far closer than that, shouldn’t be parted from him again so soon.
Pearl nodded, dipping into a little bow. “Of course! Um, I get the sense that this isn’t your typical case, you know? I just wish I had more insight… if only Mystic Maya were here….”
“Not at all..” Athena gave her a smile. “don’t worry…I think this gave everyone the proof they needed to figure it out, Pearl! You did great!”
“Mystic Maya?” Sheila raised her eyebrow “someone who has more experience with possessions?”
Pearl smiled back at Athena, and answered. “Mystic Maya is my cousin, the future leader of Kurain village and master of the Kurain channeling technique. If anybody would know, she would– but she’s in Kura’in finishing her training, so we can’t talk to her….”
“That’s a shame,” Simon murmured. “There isn’t anyone else who would know?”
The little medium chewed on her thumb. “Well…”
“Sounds like a real powerhouse…but getting a hold of anyone in Kura’in is a pain. Especially if they’re related to the monastic orders’.’ Sheila hummed “there’s someone else?”
Athena gasped, covering her mouth “Woah…and I thought she was just the Boss’ legendary legal aide…the master of a tradition’s a pretty hu–” She cut herself off and looked at Pearl in curiosity.
Pearl poked her fingers together. “I could call your boss’ boss, actually, Miss Athena,” she murmured. “Miss Mia Fey– Mystic Maya’s older sister. I don’t know if she would know, because she left the tradition, but it could be worth a try.”
“By call– you mean summon, don’t you?” Robert asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pearl nodded. “Uhuh.”
“Are you feeling well enough to?” Athena asked with genuine concern. “…you seemed pretty worn out after channeling my mom..”
She rubbed the back of her neck, and smiled. “I’m pretty tired, but… if I fall asleep, you’ll carry me back to the hotel, right?”
With a salute, Athena flashed a bright smile.
“Promise, Pearly! I’ll carry you right back to your room!” Sheila chuckled “alright. Well, with that settled, let’s meet this Miss Mia Fey, shall we?”
December 25, 5:55 pm
They gathered again in the unfurnished viewing room in a loose circle around Pearl Fey, Simon having suggested that it was perhaps a little too inappropriate to have a seance right out in the middle of the hallway.
Pearl had put her hands together, and once again that strange aura filled the room, challenging Athena’s senses.
And then Pearl was gone, and in her place was a tall, handsome woman with a strong face and large, dark eyes. She looked over them each, a catlike smile written on her face, and a sense of deep amusement radiating out from her.
“Well now! This certainly isn’t the usual crowd that I play to,” she declared. Her gaze lingered on Agent Ash for a long moment.
“Well, well. Today seems to be the day for pretty stiffs. Hello, Miss Fey.” Agent Ash commented with her wolfish grin as she crossed her arms under her chest, and stifled a laugh. “Hope you don’t mind the new audience.”
Athena’s eyes were wide– this was Mia Fey– the woman Phoenix rarely spoke about at the office, but always with hushed reverence. The one who’d told him the very advice that saved her again and again about a lawyer’s smile. Mia Fey, in the borrowed flesh.
“Uhm h-hello, ma’am!” Athena dipped into an awkward bow.
Simon bowed as well, and Bobby saluted.
“The late Ms. Mia Fey, we presume?” Bobby said with a grin,
“In the flesh!” the woman laughed. “Not mine though. Actually– whose flesh am I in? And where’s Phoenix Wright? He’s in trouble again, isn’t he?”
“Oh no, Mr. Birdman is just fine.” Sheila started to cackle again, slapping the wall. “Is he really that accident prone? No wonder the King of Fop’s such an anxious wreck. snrk!!! ” she stifled the laughter and leaned forward. “Miss Fey, you’ve been called for an assessment with your expertise. We have an increasingly unusual situation. So we’ve asked the Small Medium at Large to help.”
Athena rubbed her neck as she attempted to translate for Sheila’s apparent love of snarky nicknames.
“Phoenix is alright, ma’am. We had Pearl summon you ‘cause she didn’t have any experience with the situation at hand…a rash of possessions in a short amount of time…and Mystic Maya is off training in Kura’in. We were hoping that you could explain some of this. Two…four? Of the parties are in this room. The other’s in lockup.”
Mia looked around at the people in the circle, her gaze lingering now on Apollo and on Halblicht. “So I see. Alright, why don’t we sit down and you can bring me up to speed.”
December 25, 6:10 pm
At the head of the table, Mia Fey had her hands clasped together and her chin rested on them, as everyone had explained the situation. She had been sitting with her eyes closed, taking it all in.
Finally, she opened them and looked around the table. “I see. So there’s an international espionage ring that trains its spies through rigorous dehumanization starting in early childhood. We have two of them here– one in this room, and one in lock up– both who have been possessed by the ghosts of the people that they most recently killed. Is that correct so far?”
“That’s right, ma’am.” Athena nodded seriously as she leaned on the table. “Both were possessed, confirmed by Pearl, though I’m not sure the one in lock up realizes it yet. They’re both a little confused from the sound of the interview.”
Sheila tipped her chair back. “…got to love espionage rings.” she said dryly. “fucking people up so hard the dead get involved.”
“I think you’ll find that I do not in fact have to love that,” Mia murmured.
“Trust me, neither do I.“
Mia pointed at Apollo. "And you two aren’t part of this spy business, but had known one another for years, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Apollo murmured.
“Alright,” she nodded. “I think I understand what’s going on.”
“Pray enlighten the rest of us poor souls,” Simon drawled.
Athena leaned forward, listening carefully. She had a theory, herself– and she wondered if perhaps Mia had come to the same conclusion, from the spiritual angle rather than psychological.
The legendary lawyer smiled and shook a finger. “Before I do, do any of the talented problem solvers among you have a guess?”
“The supernatural isn’t my forte, unfortunately,” Simon confessed. He leaned a little closer to Bobby. “I’ll be just as happy to have the mystery revealed for me this time.”
Sheila shook her head, hands raised in the air. “I’m not the woman to ask about emotions, spirits, or attachment I’m afraid.”
Athena perked up with a nervous smile, her hand shooting up “I have a guess, ma’am!”
Mia pointed at her. “I like your attitude, red. Give it a shot for me.”
“Red???” Athena squeaked “…better than Miss Edutainment at least.”
Sheila began laughing again, slapping the table with her palm, which only made Athena flush more. She pushed her hair out of her face and took a breath before she answered.
“I’m wondering if it’s because of their unique psychological profiles– 24 and Robert, I mean. They’ve had their personalities and emotions crushed since they were children so they could become anyone, anywhere, right? It’s horrible, and it makes me sick, but it also means that they’d be…psychologically and probably spiritually open with enough mental/spiritual real estate for a spirit or personality to take residence. R-right? I’d thought it just meant there was room to create a new personality, but…”
“…What, like they were some kind of spirit-trap?” Sheila asked with a raise of her eyebrow “…that explains why I never got myself possessed, despite factors.”
“Very insightful, Miss Cykes!” Mia clapped. “That’s exactly the conclusion that I’d come to. The training they underwent essentially made the soul in their body small enough to accommodate another one no problem, without any of the usual difficulties involved.”
Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. “I see… I suppose that does make sense…”
Mia nodded. “If there’s a void, a soul can easily rush in to fill it. Especially if there’s an intense enough burst of emotions at the time of death.”
Athena’s eyes widened, and her heart started to race.
“Like a murder– Kelso’s burst of horror and despair that echoed again when 24 tried to kill herself…and…” She glanced at Bobby and Robert with a bite of her lip. “Thank you, though ma’am. It makes psychological sense, too.”
Sheila whistled “….who knows how many more of your fellows are walking around with confused ghosts in their heads.”
“An interesting possibility,” Halblicht murmured, twisting his fingers together. “Both hopeful and grim, too…”
“Indeed,” Simon nodded. “What an ironic fate for both parties.”
“Very ironic…” Athena chewed her nails. “A killer and a victim sharing a body, and …if Halblicht is any indication, doing all the better for it. I hope…I hope when we find the rest we can help them too. Starting with Kelso and Miss 24.”
Sheila brushed her hair over her ear.
“Sharing space with your victim. Very interesting indeed.” She glanced sidelong at Mia. “You look young. Murder or illness?”
Mia’s eyebrows raised. “Murder or illness what, ms. Interpol?”
“Your cause of death, Miss Fey.” Sheila leaned on the back of her hand.
Athena sat up with a start. “Agent Ash! You can’t go around asking people that kind of thing!”
The agent’s gaze turned towards her, the barest note of confusion in her voice. “I’m looking for an opinion from the other side of the veil on the current situation, Miss Edutainment…and I’d like to know if I’m walking into a landmine. So I felt it prudent to ask.”
The deceased lawyer sighed, and fluffed her hair. “I was murdered. But don’t worry about it, just say what you want to say or ask what you want to ask.”
“I’d thought so,” Ash leaned on her hand. “My question is this– emotionally speaking, do you think Sam Wan Kelso will suffer sharing a body with the woman who killed her? I know it’s seemed to work out for these gentlemen…”
Ash pointed to Bobby and Robert. “But as someone who died at the hands of another, I’m curious about your opinion. And…also, how does possession work? Have you possessed anyone? Can someone possess another down the line, provided they haven’t passed into rebirth?”
Mia pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Oh dear, this is a lot of complicated questions. And I can feel little Pearl getting tuckered out.” She sighed and took a breath. “The important question you asked is about Kelso and her killer. I know that I wouldn’t have wanted to get stuck in a body with my own killer. But don’t worry– possession is voluntary on the part of the spirit. If Kelso doesn’t like it, she can leave any time. If you want to learn more about possession in general, there’s an excellent library in Kurain village which I am sure you would be welcome to look over.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.” Sheila Ash held her hands up with a smile. “Sorry for overloading you with questions, Miss Fey. Thank you. Knowing Kelso can leave if she’s unhappy does wonders. Last thing I want is to allow someone to be trapped in a situation they can’t escape.”
Athena wondered exactly why Sheila had asked so many questions so quickly– part of it probably had something to do with the rapid fire and complicated emotions that ricocheted through her voice when she’d asked them.
But either way, she shifted nervously on her chair. “Thank you so much for your time, Ma’am! If you’ve gotta rest, we won’t keep you…I know Pearl was worried about falling asleep.”
“Wait just a minute,” Apollo– no, it was Clay– said, sitting forward. “That’s great for them, but what about us?”
Mia turned toward Athena’s fellow lawyer and his spirit companion. She smiled a rather sad smile. “I didn’t mean to leave you out. But you’ve already probably guessed that your situation is different from theirs.”
They nodded. “Yeah, I got that sense. So… can you tell me any more about it?”
“Here’s the thing. These guys–” she pointed her finger at Bobby and Robert. “These ‘assets’– it seems like they have what you might call ‘bonsai’ souls. They’ve been deliberately groomed and cut and shaped so they don’t take up much space. That means there’s plenty of room for a full sized soul to move in and share space without disrupting the bonsai. But you, Misters, have two regular full sized souls in you right now.”
Athena got the sense from Mia’s voice that that was going to be a problem.
“…and a container only has so much space.” Athena murmured quietly, her brow furrowed. “…which is why they’ve been so erratic? Maybe?”
Sheila listened with her fingers against her forehead. “…he’s not going to explode like this was some 80’s horror flick, is he?”
“Nothing so dramatic,” Mia promised and waved her hand. “Have you ever seen what happens to two trees when you try to grow them in a tight space? Provided there’s adequate sustenance for both?”
“They grow together,” Simon said.
“They grow together,” Mia nodded. “The two plants twist around one another and grow so closely and tightly as to become inseparable– even indistinguishable from one another, as if they had been one all along. And that, my dears, is what will happen to the two of you if you remain as you are.”
Apollo and Clay had gone pale. “How long? How much time do I have?”
She shrugged. “It’s impossible to say. A year, perhaps. Maybe two.”
Athena bit her lip. “…a mingling of spirits into one. I …I guess that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?”
She glanced at Apollo, her brow furrowed as she thought of him and Clay. A short fuse had been placed on them, a timer ticking down to decide if they had to have their final parting…or…
Sheila brushed her fingers through the strands of her pale hair. “…huh.”
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, hon,” Mia said with a sad little smile. “But that’s the way it is. There aren’t too many ways out there to cheat death, you know.”
The two took a breath. “I understand. Thank you for telling me. I–we’ll figure it out. That’s all we needed to know.”
Athena gave them a sympathetic look and a halfhearted smile “I believe in you guys…”
“Not many ways to cheat death…” Sheila laughed, slapping her table. “Yeah, guess not, Miss Faerie Tale. “
“Sorry, Ms. Interpol,” Mia chuckled sadly again. “If that’s all you needed from me, then I’ll say good luck, and get back to my busy schedule.”
Halblicht shook his head. “No other questions from us, here.”
“Busy Schedule? and here Cykes Sr. Made it sound like death was the waiting room from hell!” Sheila laughed. She saluted Mia with a grin that Athena thought looked rather forced. “Thanks. Good luck to you too, Faerie Tale. No further questions.”
Athena waved quietly at her with a smile.
“It was nice to meet you, ma’am. Phoenix talks about you a lot, so… She bowed her head “I hope I get to speak with you again someday. Good luck.”
“Knowing Phoenix, I’m sure we will, red. Tell him hello for me, will you?” She blew a kiss to the table, and then– was gone.
Pearl Fey slumped exhausted onto her arms against the table. “Oooh…..”
Athena’s concern immediately reasserted itself and she hurried over to put her hand on Pearl’s back. “You alright, Pearl? That probably took a lot out of you..”
“I’m okay!” she said, raising her head a little and giving a shaky thumbs up. “Did Miss Mia help?”
Bobby was already out of his chair, and he saluted the little medium. “She helped a great deal, Miss Fey. Is there anything we can do to help you?”
“Oh good! I want some juice,” Pearl said. She giggled exhaustively and returned his salute. Athena could feel pride radiating from her. “And a looooong nap.”
“You’ve more than earned both, Fey-dono,” Simon nodded.
Athena nodded with a broad grin “the best juice in Cauli, even.” she playfully punched her shoulder “i’ll even carry you if you still want.”
Sheila laughed and slapped the table “bravo, Small Medium. You really were at Large today. Nickname earned. I’ll have Lang grab you an honorary badge for your service to Interpol today.”
Pearl found the strength to sit up at that. “Really? That would be so cool! Ooohg…” With a dizzy look she leaned against Athena’s hand.
“Really.” Agent Ash purred, and pulled out her phone. She typed a message and winked “…sent. Stop in before you leave Cauli and I’ll ensure you get it.”
Athena rubbed her back with a chuckle. “Yeah Pearl… I’m definitely gonna carry you.”
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