BlackHeart Biohazards

In Justice We Trust (162836 words) thesavagesabretooth
Chapters: 41/41

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 26, 8:15 am

Athena had a pleasant, almost strangely normal breakfast with Simon and Halblicht in the hotel restaurant– both of them in quite cheerful spirits. Soon afterward, Halblicht was spirited away by Agent Ash for another round of work on the information they were getting, and Simon and Athena had to report to Chief Prosecutor Edegworth for a meeting of their own.

She couldn’t help but feel…truly optimistic, for the first time in days. Not just happy, but warm with the feeling of hope and excitement for all the things that could be getting better little by little. The Organization was on its way to being dismantled. The memories of her mother no longer ended on the worst day of her life. They had rescued another person from the organization’s hands– a chance at hope burning within them– and she was firming her bonds with not only Simon, but Robert and Bobby as well.

She even had hope for Apollo and Clay. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she cheerfully led the way down the hall and towards the Chief Prosecutor’s meeting room. Her smile widened even more when she found that Edgeworth had fresh coffee and donuts waiting in the conference room. Sure she’d just had breakfast, but–

“Good morning, Miss Cykes. Prosecutor Blackquill,” Miles greeted as he fixed himself a cup of coffee. “Help yourselves, please, before we get down to business.”

“Mff mmff mfff!” The muffled additional greeting came from her boss, Mr, Wright, who was sitting at one end of the table with his face full of donut, and waving at her.

Athena waved her hand at them with a broad grin. 

“Aw yeah! Let’s get some more coffee, Simon!” She cheered “…annnnd maybe a few donuts, you know. For energy.” 

Simon laughed. “For energy. You’ll be more energy than you are lawyer soon, Athena. And more donut than energy, besides.”

The jab didn;’t stop him from going to get a donut– but he did feed half of it to Taka immediately.

Athena took two donuts for herself, sticking her tongue out at Simon before snatching her coffee. “Better than being more grump than lawyer, Mr. Blackquill!” 

Wright laughed and set down his coffee. “She’s got you there, Blackquill.”

“She most certainly does not.” Simon smirked and sat down too, still feeding bites to Taka.

There was a pleasant mood in the room. One of the lightest that Athena had been in in days. It was especially noticeable that the heavy tension that had seemed to lay over both her boss and Mr. Edgeworth had dissipated almost entirely.

“I can say from experience, grumpy prosecutors go places,” Edgeworth said, sitting down as well. He took a sip of his coffee and started arranging papers.

Athena plopped down in her chair with a quiet huff. “Yeah, like Cauli on a big crazy mission.” 

“Like that,” Wright agreed with amusement. “Honestly, Athena, I think you’re probably the only one in the room no one would accuse of being grumpy.”

“And she has her moments,” Simon drawled.

Athena flushed, and fluffed her hair with one hand. “I most certainly do! Though I dunno if I’d call it grumpy exactly. More… I dunno…” 

Simon leaned on his hand and grinned. “More like?”

“Charmingly terse. Dignified and imperious.” Athena sipped her coffee. 

“Sounds more like you’re describing me, doesn’t it, Taka?” Simon smirked, conferring with the bird.

Edgeworth looked over his glasses at the two of them with a dry, stern expression. Athena could sense his amusement anyway.

“If you two are quite done?”

“Never, sir. You should probably get started while there’s a lull though.” 

Edgeworth chuckled. “I suppose I may as well. Alright. The latest report from interpol this morning is that they’re closing in on one of the targets. Mr. Gaius Lovelace, also known as ‘Specs’. There’s a sting operation being planned to get underway today.”

Athena couldn’t help but smile a little wider “AH! GOOD, so he didn’t slip away while we were investigating yesterday? The intel from our friend in lockup helped?” 

“Magnificently,” he nodded. “She was able to give us information on where she dropped him off in Kelso’s car. From there Interpol were able to follow him via ids in security footage and traffic cameras all the way out to a smaller airport in a city across the border. They’re going to meet him when he touches down in Denmark this afternoon.”

Athena punched her hand against her palm.

“And this time, he doesn’t have someone to push down to take the fall for him, does he? Just him, and our friendly neighborhood Interpol squad.” 

Phoenix raised his glass from down the table. “Just him, interpol, and as far as I heard something like two dozen local PD they’re mobilizing. Bastard doesn’t stand a chance.:

"Wonderful,” Simon purred, lacing his fingers together. “A late Christmas present for all of us.”

“Indeed,” Miles nodded. “As with yesterday’s suspect, Lang has agreed to a trial in LA, under Interpol oversight.”

Athena twisted her fingers together. “And me and Apollo are going to be representing him, I presume?” 

“That depends on a number of factors,” Miles said. “Athena, I feel that your expertise will be extremely welcome in this trial, However, your boss, Mr. Wright has volunteered to take the position of primary attorney. I will ask Apollo Justice his feelings on the matter, but unless he volunteers to defend, he won’t be involved. And likewise, I won’t pressure you to participate.”

Athena held up her hand. 

“I’ll participate.” She took a deep breath, before smiling brightly. “My expertise and experiences over the last few days will be vital to the case. If it brings us to the truth, and further up that organization’s ladder to push ‘em off it, then I’m happy to help.” 

“Your help is very much appreciated, Miss Cykes,” Miles nodded. “Thank you again for everything you’ve done for us thus far. And on that note, Prosecutor Blackquill– the case is yours to prosecute, if you so choose.”

Simon stroked Taka’s feathers and smiled a rather nasty smile. “I very much so choose, Chief Prosecutor Edgeworth. It will be my pleasure to send this abomination to hell for his sins. While dear Athena works tirelessly to save whatever might be left of his soul.”

Athena nibbled on her donut with a nod. “And with the two of us working together from both directions…to damn and to save, we’ll find the middle ground of the truth, and the proper …the just conclusion to this whole affair.” 

December 26, 9:15 am

Simon was humming happily to himself as he and Athena left the meeting with their bosses. Everything was falling into place. To think, only days before, he’d thought his world shattered almost beyond repair. Now there was gold in the cracks.

“We’ll have our work cut out for us when we get back to LA, Cykes-dono, and no mistake of that.”

“We absolutely do, Simon.” Athena chuckled softly as she brushed her fingers through her hair. “…two cases to prepare for– all under Interpol’s gaze. You think we can manage it?” 

“I’d say we’re swiftly proving our record, between the pair of us. I know the chief prosecutor wouldn’t put it in our hands if he wasn’t pleased with our work.”

That much was–unfortunately– evident with Edgeworth declining to invite Apollo Justice to the affair.

“That’s true…” Athena must have thought of that too, from the sad flicker of emotion that crossed her face before she smiled again. “So we’ll just have to keep impressing him. I’m…kind of hoping we can get Miss Kelso and her new co-host a decent deal from the judge, admittedly.” 

“I’d wager that we’ll be able to. Her cooperation will stand well for her. That trial will be more of a formality and a bargaining than anything else.”

Athena looked up at him with a nod. “Which means the real battle’ll be the one with Lovelace at the stand. Are you feeling ready to go up against me again, Simon?” 

He laughed and tapped his temple. "The real question is are you ready to go up against me again, Cykes-dono. I have no intention of losing.”

Athena leaned in with a broad grin on her face. She turned and pointed fully at him with a flustered pride in her eyes.

“And neither do I, twisted samurai. Because I’m confident I can find the truth I…” She took a deep breath as she finally said what was on her mind. “I’m going to wear one of mom’s kimonos to the courtroom, and stand proudly at the bench and prove my client’s truth to you, no matter what!” 

Simon smiled widely, and grabbed her shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.

“I very much look forward to that, Athena. Very much.” He felt a swell of affection rise up. Seeing Metis– it must have been even more powerful for her than it had been for him. And besides that– it was amazing to see how far that she’d come, since facing him for the first time in the courtroom. “Athena….”

Athena tucked her hair over her ear, she was flustered from the declaration..that much was clear, but he could see the genuine confidence in her eyes. “Yeah Simon?” 

He squeezed her again. “I know I’ve said it before, but. Thank you. Thank you again, for everything you’ve done for me.”

Athena hugged him then, pulling him close suddenly. After his surprise, he wrapped his arms around her.

“You’re welcome, Simon. I’d do it all again, every part of it … and I’ll always wanna be there to do everything I can, okay?” She squeezed him back, and her voice was genuine and warm. “Always, just like I knew you were always there for me.” 

“And here we are. Here for each other. What funny tricks fate’s had for both of us.” He smiled, and brushed his fingers through her hair for just a moment– then stepped backward. “I never guessed a week ago that this was where we’d be.”

“Me neither, Simon.” Athena put her hand on her hip with a smile. “…I knew I was going to save you by any means necessary, of course…but uh…gotta admit the specifics kinda threw me for a loop.” 

“The specifics have been frankly insane,” he chuckled, fluffing back his hair.“But they certainly haven’t been boring. And it’s all worked out… much better than I thought it could. Maybe that makes me a little insane too.”

Athena laughed. “…I mean, I’m of the opinion we’re all kinda insane, Simon. It makes sense, yeah? Where would we be without our unique psychologies and quirks? Or ghosts? Or who knows what…? Not here– where things are slowly swinging better than ever.” 

“Not here, without all those things.” Simon closed his eyes for a moment. “You’re quite right about that, Athena. And I’m very glad to be here.”

December 26, 10:20 am

Athena was at the desk in her hotel room, working on the paperwork Edgeworth had given her to fill out for interpol in terms of representing ‘asset 24’ in court back in LA when there was a knock at the door.

Paperwork, the necessary evil, was never her forte– so the moment there was a knock she wasted no time in hopping up and opening the door with a smile . Anything was a welcome distraction from the rapidly blurring text. 

Detective Halblicht was standing there with a large grin on his face, absolutely radiating positivity and warmth.

He saluted her immediately. “I hope I’m not unjustly interrupting you, Ms. Athena!”

Athena’s smile bloomed across her face with the answering glow of warm positivity pinging around her internal emotions “Detective Halblicht!!! Of course not! I’m just …ugh, stuck in the mire of Interpol paperwork.” 

“And here I just got out of the same thing. May I come in? I actually have something else from interpol for you.”

Athena stepped out of the way to let him in with a laugh. “alright, but if it’s more paperwork I might actually scream!” 

“No danger of that at least!” he said, still grinning as he stepped into the room. As the door closed he reached into a bag that was dangling at his arm, and pulled out– a large ziplock bag full of Christmas cookies. “Tada!”

“Oh!!!” Athena’s eyes widened as a hand went to her cheek. “Those look delicious!!”
She swayed back and forth happily for a moment. “did…did someone in Interpol make them themselves??” 

“Detective Badd, apparently!” Bobby nodded, pressing the bag into her hands. “He said that he wanted you to have some for all the good work you’ve been doing. He gave me a bag for Simon as well.”

“Wow…the big guy’s a real sweetheart, isn’t he?” Athena grinned as she took the bag and hugged it to her chest. “mind if I try one now?? I’m kinda excited!” 

“Be my guest! I already ate half the bag that he gave me while I was working down at the station.” He chuckled and slipped his hands into his pockets. “Sounds like you could use the sugar boost.”

“Honestly, even if Simon would make fun of me for it, yeah.” Athena opened the bag and took a bite of one of the cookies with a hum. “How was workin’ at the station?” she asked…after she swallowed. 

“It was a little tense,” he admitted. “Everybody down there is getting wound up because there’s going to be a big sting operation later this afternoon. Especially ’cause they can’t be there for it, and it’ll be headed up by another branch.”

Bobby’s shoulders sagged a little, and Athena could easily guess that it wasn’t just interpol who was tense about that.

She reached out and patted his shoulder as she swallowed another bite of cookie. They were thickly frosted, somewhat crumbly, and quite sweet. It was obvious they were hand baked with love.

“…I mean, I can’t blame them,” she began with a sympathetic smile. “They all wanna be there, to make sure it goes down alright…yeah?’ 

“Absolutely.” He nodded, and sighed, but he returned her little smile. “But that’s not the way it worked out, so we all just have to trust that everyone will do their jobs and justice will be upheld.”

He was being positive for Robert’s sake– that was obvious. Athena could feel the little, almost nothing, ping of anxiety that fluttered next to Bobby’s emotions. Robert was worried that their target was going to slip away.

“I wish we could be there too, you know.” Athena tucked her hair over her ear. “but he’s not going to get away. I heard about the operation some…he barely got away this time, it’s only because he put the Miss…Miss Kelso in an unwinnable situation as a distraction that we didn’t catch him here. But he has nobody else with him, and LOTS of people waiting for him when he lands.” 

Bobby’s smile softened into Robert’s small, trained expression. “I hope you’re right, Ms. Athena. I’m doing my best to trust that. With your help. And Bobby’s.”

She nodded firmly at him with the more subtle smile she’d allowed herself to show in his presence. 

“Good. Hold onto hope, Robert…we’re all going to end this together, remember? You, Bobby, me, Simon…everyone.” Looking up, she met his eyes. “you’re not alone anymore.” 

He met her gaze, blue eyes unwavering behind amber lenses. “Thank you, Ms. Athena. I’m just starting to understand and appreciate that.”

December 26, ??? PM

“Agent Ash!” Bobby greeted with a sharp salute. “I didn’t expect to see you this afternoon!”

Sheila Ash was wearing something different than the last day or so when Bobby found her leaning on his doorframe with her sharp-toothed grin. A long red coat, buttoned over a pair of dress pants and black silk blouse.

 “I promised you a shopping trip if we had time in Cauli, didn’t I?” She leaned in towards him “Detective Prime Time, we’ve got the time now. Time to celebrate even, with a little trip around the city’s finest shops.” 

His eyes widened, and an unfamiliar series of emotions washed through them. “We have time? Then you’re telling me…?”

“That’s right.” Sheila said with a clap of her hands. “We’ve got the bastard locked up tight, cloistered up in the most secure lockup in Denmark. Lovelace isn’t going anywhere until we drag him to LA to be tried.” 

Lovelace. It was still so strange to think about him having a name. A life.

Things that could be taken away from him.

Bobby smiled widely. “That’s amazing! Alright– let me go see if Prosecutor Blackquill will let me borrow his wallet!”

December 26, ??? PM

Pearl peeked out the hotel room door to find interpol waiting for her.

“Oh! Good afternoon, Miss Agent Ash!”

Sheila Ash gave Pearl a little salute as the door opened. 

“Good afternoon Little Miss Pearl.” she seemed to have a barely restrained smile on her face, and something tucked against her palm that was just visible enough as she saluted. “I wanted to stop by and thank you again for all your help yesterday.” 

Pearl’s smile brightened and she did a little bow. It was obvious she was already recovered from the day before.

“It was my pleasure! I’m always glad to help with that kind of thing.” She rocked on her heels,eying Ash’s palm eagerly.

Ash’s smile twitched a little wider as she nodded. 

“And I hope you’ll help again soon…which is partially why I want to give you this.”

She reached down to take Pearl’s hand, and placed a slightly heavy piece of folded leather in her hand…it looked a bit like a wallet. 

A look of wonder came over Pearl’s face and she grinned widely as she slowly opened it to look inside.

Inside, sewn into the leather, was a metal badge shaped like the planet Earth with a sword stabbed down through its center. Above, it read ‘Interpol’, and below…freshly etched, it read

‘Honorary Agent Small-Medium At-Large’.

Sheila’s lips twitched again, and she finally burst into a laughing fit, rocking back and forth. “Consider it a ‘bribe’ to consider joining up when you graduate, kid!” 

Pearl squealed with joy like air escaping a balloon, and threw herself against the agent in a sudden hug. “I’m gonna show this to everybody!”

December 26, ??? PM

Badd sat shoulder to shoulder with Gumshoe at the bar, in front of a pair of steaming hot bowls of noodles. He slapped Gumshoe’s back.

“Hell of a case, huh, Dick?”

Gumshoe laughed, rocking just a bit…Badd was one of the few guys out there strong enough to actually send him rocking with a slap.

Always had been that way.

“Hell of a case, Tyrell, pal. Not gonna lie, it got real hairy for a while.” 

“Sure did. Ghosts. I’m telling ya I hope that doesn’t start to be the norm in our line of work.”

“What, ghosts sir? I dunno, I mean…how many ghosts can there possibly be, right?”
He rubbed his neck as he slurped some noodles. “…I …I guess there’s one for every person on Earth actually. Huh. Scary shit, pal.” 

“Could even be one for every person who’s ever been on earth too,” Badd nodded. “Scary shit. And terrible for convincing you to join interpol.”

Gumshoe laughed. 

“You’re still tryin’ huh sir?“ He nudged Badd with his elbow “promise…when Mr. Edgeworth settles down and thinks about joinin’ too…I’ll be happy to sign on too. Hell, I know Maggey would be over the goddamn moon too!” 

"I’ll keep waiting, then,” Badd laughed with him. 

December 26, ??? PM

In the police station in LA, Maggey Byrde got off the telephone, and shouldered a large stack of papers as she came back to the front desk area.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!” she chirped. “I just got off the phone with Dick!”

“From Mr. Detective Gumshoe?” came her answer. She’d left the front desk in the care of one of the precinct’s rookie detectives while she’d taken the call, and she found him sitting with his face down on the desk.

Detective Ray Hoshino looked up from under the fluffy bangs of his blue-black hair and smiled. “W-was it good news?” 

“It was! Interpol captured the target, and they’re all going to be on a plane back here tomorrow morning!”

Ray’s eyes widened, practically sparkling as he lit up with joy. The young man slapped his hands on the table as he stood with his hand clasped to his chest, and a smile turned towards the stars 

“I knew he could do it! As long as we, the agents of Justitia’s warmth, rise to fight another day…there’s nothing we can’t do!” He started to sniffle, his shoulders shaking. “in..In…In Justice W-we …Trust.”

He’d been like this since the trial only a few days before. 

Maggey sighed, and patted the young rookie on his shoulder placatingly. It was tough to watch, when the kid had lost his mentor. Really… they’d all lost someone they liked having at the precinct.

But what could you do, but keep going.

“There, there, Hoshino.”

December 26, ??? PM

“Unlike our arrival, I think it’s fine if we all go home on the same plane, Kay,” Miles said, looking up from his admittedly intimidating stack of paperwork, fresh off the printer.

“Oh thank hell.” Kay Faraday grinned at him from where she leaned, tossing a…guitar pick of all things… up and down in her hand. “Booking the two separate flights without a fight breaking out between parties was a nightmare. I’ll just book us half a plane and get us on our way, Mr. Miles.” 

He chuckled. “Perfect, perfect. No fox, chicken, corn scenario this time. Thank Justitia. I hesitate to say it but things might actually be looking up.”

Kay caught the guitar pick with a wink. 

“Don’t say that, sir. You’re tempting fate to cause like…an all out brawl in the plane. Or for me to book outta Ifly Airlines’ special package for you again. The one with the free suitcase.” 

He slammed his hands down on the table in front of him and half stood at the mere mention of the airline.

“Don’t you dare!”

December 26, ??? PM

“So, are you and Pearls okay coming back with us to LA tomorrow, or do I need to book you two an extra day of Cauli vacation with Mr. Gavin, Trucy?” Phoenix teasingly squashed the hat down on his daughter’s head.

Trucy squeaked as her hat tipped down over her eyes

“Wah!! DADDY! Come on!” She stuck out her tongue “Mr. Gavin was a lot of fun to hang out with yesterday, but after the whole mess that went on while we were there he’s gonna be booked solid with reshoots and stuff for days.” 

“I can’t believe you guys spent the whole day yesterday tracking down his stolen guitar.” Phoenix shook his head. “At least there wasn’t a murder.”

“Detective Pearl and her trusty assistant Trucy were on the case, so obviously there wasn’t a murder! We probably stopped it before it began with our cunning ways.” Trucy put her hands on her hips with a giggle “…but that left us kinda tuckered out, and since he’s gonna be busy anyway….”

“So what I’m hearing is you don’t mind heading back home and putting your feet up.”

“Yep!” Trucy laughed “besides…”

She tapped the edge of her nose “Your darling daughter did some networking yesterday!” 

“Oh no, don’t tell me…”

Trucy grinned widely 

“I met someone from a TV Studio who wants to cut a deal for a HUGE MAGIC SPECTACULAR for my big debut! I’m thinking of basing it on one of my favorite novels…whatta you think of…” She spread her hands in a dramatic gesture, “Trucy In Gramaryeland!” 

December 26, ??? PM

Phoenix cradled the phone on his shoulder and smiled. “Hey, Maya, it’s been a few days. Training hard, or hardly training?”

“Oh, you know Nick,” The reception was terrible…her voice came through a crackling line of intermittent static…but it was about as good as it’d been since she’d been gone. “Just freezing my butt off under a waterfall. Eating grass. How about you?” 

“Oh you know. Just on the trail of international criminals in a foreign country. Pearl had to do two separate summonings for interpol.” He smiled a little, sad that he’d missed Mia, but well… it hadn’t been the time.

“Wait, hold the phone…you’re holding it, right? You’re working with Interpol now??”  Her voice squeaked through the line “and Pearls is channeling ghosts for them? And I missed it?? Aw man…”

He heard her sigh “I wish there was a murder here so you could come and visit with your new interpol pals, Nick.” 

Phoenix laughed. “Come on, don’t say that, Maya. Hey, your training’s getting close to done– right? I’m gonna fly out there when it’s almost up and you can show me around. How’s that sound?”

“Almost, Nick. Just a little longer and I really will be the master of Kurain Village…crazy huh?”
He heard her chuckle, and murmur something to someone he couldn’t hea.r “When I’m done…I’m begging you to come visit, alright? I’ll give you the grand tour, and it’s only gonna cost you a month’s worth of ramen and burgers once we’re back in LA, alright? Maybe two months.” 

“That’s highway robbery, Maya. But for you– I’ll pay it.”

December 27, 8:15 am

There was quite the crowd in the waiting area of the airport that morning, all circling the wagons of their luggage, chatting, and waiting for the plane. The whole LA party was there– only the interpol agents were traveling separately.

Despite the press of the emotions of the crowd that usually overwhelmed Athena, today, like the day before, there was a general positive mood in the air.

It was still a lot–big crowds and emotions always were– but it was a lot in a way that brought a smile to her face as she hefted her bag up into her hands. Somehow, impossibly, the trip to Cauli that had been so distressing and overwhelming had turned into something…genuinely wonderful. Understandings were reached, relationships repaired, criminals captured and discord quieted in hears she once worried may be consumed by them.

Even her own.

She couldn’t help the smile as she looked up at the ticking departure sign. LA was waiting, and with it, new challenges and plenty of hard work to come…but it was going to be worth it.

Apollo Justice was the last to arrive at the spot where they were waiting. His emotions were still raw, but much less turbulent than they had been before.

As she watched, she saw Halblicht– who had been chatting with Ema Skye– disengage, and turn, walking up to Apollo. 

Apollo paused, and they looked at one another.

Athena’s breath caught in her throat, and she watched them carefully and curiously…it didn’t feel like another fight.

She felt a sting of anxiety, and realized it wasn’t her own. Simon was about to rush forward and put himself between them. As he began to move past her she reached out and stopped him with her arm.

She shook her head and mouthed ‘I think it’s okay’ 

Simon frowned, but stopped beside her as she grabbed him, and didn’t protest. He craned his head to hear what was being said, but Athena didn’t need to.

“There’s nothing I can say that will undo it,” Robert said, “and no apology I could give that would be meaningful enough.”

“No. There isn’t.” Apollo held out his hand.

Halblicht took it.

The four of them shook two hands.

Athena sighed with relief– and felt Simon’s beside her– a small and fragile smile crossing her face as she listened in. Things really were looking a little brighter. 

December 27, 9:15 am

Far below Athena Cykes, the seemingly infinite blue ocean flew past and mingled with the white swirls of the clouds. Cauli was already far behind her and getting further every second, leaving her with only the memories and the small bag of souvenir trinkets to give to Juniper and her crew at Themis Academy, and to hang up on her wall besides the old travel mementos she’d amassed in Europe.

She watched the swirl of blue and white pass with her genuine and quiet smile, as those very memories played through her mind.

The difficulty of facing her mother’s killer turned into sympathy and genuine care for the men…the Phantom pinned on the other end of her knife became Robert, whose soul had been wounded by cruelty…and she’d found understanding within. A strange bond formed against all odds.

The tragedy of the UR-1 Incident had shifted to become the reunion with her mother’s ghost and the answer to all the questions that burned inside her heart and the embrace of her mother’s arms soothing unhealed wounds in her heart– and it became her bonding with Simon all over again. Holding his hands and telling him that she’d always be there for him, and he for her, eased the pain of her desperate and unheard sobs in the courtroom as he walked off to die on her behalf.

The whole world seemed to twist towards the brighter– even Apollo, sharing a body with his boyfriend, saw the romance of a life spent eternally with someone you love in the silver lining of his unique situation.

Cauli changed everything for Athena Cykes. The worst few days of her life turned into something she knew meant more than she could have imagined. They’d even saved the life of one of Robert’s fellow assets, enough to give her a second chance.

What was this, if not a new chance at life for all of them? Simon could let go of his grief and see the care coming from all around him, Robert was free to choose a life of his own with Bobby’s help…could choose love, even., and she was free from the chains of her past, the lingering ghosts of the UR-1 Incident clawing at her battered and unique heart.

She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she took a deep and shaky breath. “Beautiful.” She found herself murmuring out loud. 

“It is beautiful, isn’t it, Ms. Athena?” Hablicht said, leaning over her seat from where he was standing in the aisle, a number of soft drinks and bags of chips cradled in his arms.

It wasn’t immediately obvious which of the two of them it was– perhaps a mingling, judging by the small, and persistent smile.

Athena snapped out of her musings with a bright grin. 

“Hey Halblicht!” She leaned back, looking up at him as she spoke. “It’s absolutely gorgeous…”

Simon appeared too– leaning in past the bulk of the duo detective. “It seems we’re interrupting her after all, half wit,” he bullied fondly. “The detective thought you might be hungry already.”

“And bored!” Bobby grinned, offering her some of his armload. “We played all those travel games on the way over– I thought we could do some more.”

“Justitia help me, why have I put myself in this situation?” Simon murmured with a smirk.

Athena winked at him with a cheerful laugh.

“Because you wanna be in it, Simon. Your emotions don’t lie.” She rubbed her neck, and took the offered snacks. “Admittedly I am kinda peckish, and I’m absolutely a little bored!. You’re really excited for the travel games again? Because I love them.” 

“Absolutely,” Bobby grinned widely. “And between you and me, I think Robert might be warming up to them too.”

“Wonderful,” Simon drawled. “I’m thoroughly outnumbered.”

December 27, 3:15 pm (Cauli time)

They weren’t quite halfway through the flight yet, and Dick Gumshoe was thinking of home. It’d been a hell of an adventure, as it always was with Mr. Edgeworth, and it’d been a real mass reunion with Interpol, too. But nothing quite beat your home beat, and the coziness of your broken-down, shitty apartment.

There was the case to build for Mr. Edgeworth, bringing everything they’d worked towards out here in Cauli back home for them to finally take the guy down, and his superiors with him. There was Maggey, who he couldn’t wait to tell every detail to the point she felt like she’d been there…and there wa—

“Detective Gumshoe?” Halblicht’s voice cut through Dick’s thoughts as the man leaned over Ema’s currently empty seat. “We haven’t had a chance to catch up. Mind if I take this seat while Investigator Skye is busy with her airline cocktails?”

“Well I’ll be damned! Halblicht!” Gumshoe whistled. “Yeah…been a bit, I know you’ve been a busy guy.”

He patted the seat next to him “Pop a squat. Investigator Skye’s gonna be busy a while. When I went to check on her, she was five rum and cokes in and started orderin’ them ‘without the coke’.“

Halblicht whistled and dropped himself into the empty chair. "I’m always impressed with the way she can put them away like that. Not that I’m much of a drinker myself.”

In point of fact, in all the time he’d been at the precinct, Dick had never seen him touch alcohol.

“Yeah, she’s uh..” Gumshoe rubbed his neck, “she’s a real fish in water with that stuff Kinda worries me sometimes, Bobby. Robert. But hey, at least most of the time she sticks to snack food nowadays instead.”

He looked over at Halblicht curiously, he’d heard everything that’d come out during the case…been there for some of it. According to little Pearl…Halblicht and the mask everyone thought he was wearing really were two guys. Two guys he and the rest of the precinct had gotten close to over the course of the year.

“How you feelin’, pal?” 

“A lot, admittedly.” He chuckled rather self-effacingly and glanced at him. “Have you heard the, ah, news? The official diagnosis for lack of a better word?”

“Sure have, pal. Sure have.” Gumshoe chuckled “You’re two detectives in one trenchcoat, yeah? Or uh, one detective and one…ya know.” 

He thought about miming a knife…but he’d been friends with the guy…still was, maybe. Seemed in bad taste. “Other guy.” 

Halblicht laughed and rubbed his neck, grinning the kind of embarrassed grin that Dick was long used to seeing from him. “Yeah, that, exactly. Turns out you’ve really had a ghost in the office for a year. Funny how that works out, I guess?”

Gumshoe laughed with him. 

“Yeah, honestly, I shouldn’t have been surprised. LAPD’s used to weird shit by now, but I gotta admit…took me for a loop, pal.” He leaned over and punched his shoulder “…kinda glad, honestly.” 

Halblicht grinned wider. 

“I’m glad. It’s been a pleasure working with your department, and you know, well…” fidgeted with his hands uncomfortably for a moment as he trailed off. “Anyway! That was actually what I wanted to talk to you about, primarily. Working with the department!”

Gumshoe tilted his head to the side. 

“Ya weren’t already?” He rubbed the scruff of his chin “I mean…I assumed ‘cause you were already here, pal. You know. On an investigation with us an’ all. Did Mr. Edgeworth say whether or not you were on the payroll?” 

“Well, uh, yes! I talked it over with Mr. Edgeworth, and the pay thing is being smoothed over. I even have an official badge again. But… that’s the thing.” The embarrassed grin reappeared. “When Mr. Edgeworth, uh, re-hired me, I think the idea in his head was that uh. People wouldn’t be able to tell it was me. But as you can see that’s not exactly the case?”

“….” Gumshoe hissed through his teeth. “Oough.” 

Halblicht rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Uh. Should we…. come up with a plan for that? Should we ask Mr. Edgeworth?”

“I got a plan, Hal.” 

He sat up straighter. “I’m listening.”

Gumshoe held up a finger “Bobby Fulbright’s secret, morally dubious twin brother.” 

Hablicht opened his mouth. He held up his hand.

And then he straightened his tie, and in a very serious voice said, “Dick, I think that plan needs a little work.”

December 27, 4:15 pm (Cauli time)

Simon looked up from his magazine with a smile as Halblicht came and dropped himself back into the empty seat next to him.

“Did Gumshoe have any insight?” Simon asked with amusement.

“Not really,” Bobby pouted. He glanced around, and then leaned over and put his arm around Simon. “He said we should pretend to be my twin brother.”

Simon laughed out loud. “I thought as much. Perhaps we should ask someone a little more logical. Like Skye-dono, for instance. When she isn’t sauced as hell.”

Bobby laughed. “I guess. It’s just a pickle, you know? We didn’t expect to end up in this situation.”

“And yet here we are,” he drawled. “Well, it’s like I said last night. We’ll figure the future out together.”

“True enough…” he nodded, and glanced around. “You also said something else last night.”

“Oh did I?” Simon raised his eyebrows.

“Yes.” Halblicht’s voice dropped low. “And we’re running out of time to do it.”

“What are you–” Simon followed the detective’s gaze across the plane to the bathroom, and he flushed deeply. He’d told him. He’d told him last night about his fantasy on the plane on the way to Cauli. “I–”

“Did you want to?” There was a smooth smirk on his face and Simon knew it was Robert suggesting it.

“Well I’m not going to say no, but we don’t exactly have the excuse that we’re chained up any more!” he hissed quietly, face burning.

“And I thought you didn’t have any shame.” Robert looked at him coolly from behind his shame.

Simon pushed him hard toward the aisle, and hissed– “Well then get up, half wit!!”

December 27, 4:15 pm (Cauli time)

Miles watched from the other aisle as Detective ‘Halblicht’ brazenly put his arm around Simon Blackquill’s shoulders.

It seemed that this was one thing Edgeworth had not miscalculated on, at least. And the investigation had been good for their relationship. No surprise there. A little excitement and mystery did wonders for getting closer to someone– even when you had good reason to be angry at them.

He glanced at Phoenix, in the seat beside him, who was leafing through a sky mall magazine, and he sighed.

There was more work to do. So damned much more work to do. He wished that he could just retire, and spend his whole life solving mysteries, and falling in love over and over again, and not have to worry about politics, and scandals, and espionage.

But that wasn’t the way the world worked. That wasn’t the beat his life marched to. He had to finish the job. He had to keep chasing this espionage ring until the bitter end. He had to reforge the justice system. Simon Blackquill, the twisted samurai, who had spent seven years in jail, was free to do as he pleased, brazenly and without a care.

But Miles Edgeworth had to change the world. If he didn’t, who would?

it stung.

He glanced over at Phoenix again, and he scooted a little closer to him in his seat. Hesitantly, slowly– he slipped his arms around Wright’s shoulders.

Phoenix flinched, and blushed looking up at him. “Edgeworth, what are you doing?”

“I’d think that would be obvious,” he grumbled, feeling flushed himself.

“But– we’re in public,” Wright whispered– though he didn’t push him away.

“Are we? Look around. Kay bought out this whole section of the plane. Can you really say there’s anyone here who doesn’t know about us already?”

Phoenix bit his lip. “Well, no, but, the flight attendant….”

Miles watched as Halblicht and Blackquill headed down the aisle toward the bathroom.

“Phoenix, I think the flight attendant is going to have enough on her hands, without worrying about us. Maybe we can relax a little, for once.”

Phoenix smiled, and leaned into him. “Yeah, I guess.”

Miles lay his cheek on the top of Phoenix Wright’s overly hair-gelled head.

“You know, Wright. You and I are spending a lot of time talking about changing the world. Maybe once we’ve fixed the court system we can do something about… this mess.”

“Our relationship?”

Miles sputtered in surprise. “I meant society, Phoenix! And its prejudices. But I suppose our own relationship should come first, yes.”

“Only you would try to change the whole world before you changed yourself, Miles,” Phoenix murmured. “It’s almost charming.”

“Almost, hmm?”

“Okay,” Phoenix smiled. “It’s a little charming. And sure, if you want to change the world. I’ll help. You know I always have your back.”

“I know,” Miles said, pulling him close. “Even when it takes you a little while to come around.”