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Lucifer Was an Angel As Well (35287 words) by thesavagesabretooth
A sheltered young artist with a tragic past finds herself caught in the web of dark affection by a beautiful and sinister murderer, and his carefree rockstar brother.
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August 31, 2028– 9:15 am
When Justine had said that she wanted to meet with Miles Edgeworth, he had suggested a lovely cafe a little way from the prosecutorial office. Now he sat there across from her in the neat, wrought iron chair at the wicker table next to a large glass window that let in the sunlight and the view of the cafe’s garden.
Justine had taken some time after her talk with Kristoph Gavin to recompose herself, to wipe the nostalgic affection from her face and still her emotions back into the gentle hum of impartiality and gentle serenity. A judge, not a boxer. An arbiter of justice.
She smiled serenely at Miles as she lifted her coffee to her lips and took a long sip.
“It’s a lovely day for this sort of thing, isn’t it?”
“A trifle warm for my tastes,” he chuckled, leaning over his coffee cup. “Which is why I didn’t get us a table outside. But it is lovely. And it’s nice to see you.”
Justine and Miles had met fairly often since the end of the Blaise Debeste affair. Not weekly, or anything close to it, but often enough that they remained in one another’s lives.
She’d always been happy to see him, both for his keen intellect and wit and for all the help he’d given her in sewing up that sordid mess. He’d become a trusted friend, someone she regarded with affection, and the only one she trusted in the seat of Chief Prosecutor at the moment.
“It’s lovely to see you, too,” she smiled with her eyes closed. “Things have been rather busy lately, haven’t they? That whole Organization affair…”
“Ugh, it certainly has,” Miles huffed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I’m still surprised we managed to get it sewn up– and I’m still dealing with the paperwork from Interpol.”
Justine laughed musically. “Oh I think we’ll be suffering Interpol’s paperwork for the next year! Such, my dear, is the price of justice and judgment.”
“One of the less regrettable prices, admittedly. If an annoying one,” he chuckled. “What about you– you’ve had your own cases to oversee, of course.”
“I’ve been kept busy. …as one of the premier judges of our district, I’m afraid I haven’t had a moment to relax and be myself.” She sipped her coffee “though I did carve out a little time today.”
“I’m pleased you did. It means I can carve out a little time too, and pretend it’s still considered working.” Miles chuckled and shook his head.
She raised her finger to her lips with a playful smile.
“I won’t say a word, Miles. It’ll be our little confidentiality.” She hummed quietly. “I hesitate to say, there…is…something somewhat work related we should probably discuss.”
Miles sighed, and stirred more sugar into his coffee. “I was afraid that you’d say so. But let’s.”
“I visited Kristoph Gavin.”
She had to say it as simply as possible. If she sugar coated it, glossed over it or implied she’d only ever find excuses to continue dancing around the issue.
“I see,” Miles nodded. “He’s a popular man all of a sudden. I gather his little ‘community service’ request has come to your attention.”
“It had…yes. I’d even gotten copies of the various transcripts, letters and his psychological profile delivered to me.” She sipped her coffee again, looking up to meet his eyes “we went to school together, you know.”
“I didn’t know that,” Miles said thoughtfully. “But I suppose I’m not surprised. The age lines up– not that I’d pay any attention to that.”
She laughed again, smiling faintly as she leaned on her hand.
“Same class. I was valedictorian of the Judge course at Themis, and he was in the Defense course.” Nostalgia warmed inside her, and she smothered it before it showed on her face, “Once upon a time I had a talent for getting him into trouble.”
“Difficult to imagine, admittedly.”
“Knowing me and him now? I imagine so!” Justine laughed again with a trace of a grin. “Back in school I was a bit of a spitfire, you know. Captain of the boxing team, even.”
Her expression softened “Amy’s death changed a lot for me. And Kristoph– well. Back in school he was delightful company. Kind and studious, but just as likely to cause trouble as I was.”
“You make it sound as though the two of you were thick as thieves, Justine.” He leaned over the table toward her, sipping his coffee. “I had no idea that you’d been close.”
Justine sipped her coffee with a pensive frown.
“We were very close. My job as judge kept me busy, enough that I suppose I didn’t have the chance to ever really talk about it with anyone.” She sighed quietly. “we were lovers. The power couple of Themis Legal.”
Miles Edgeworth made a choked noise and seemed to fight not to spit out his coffee.
“Power couple? Is there anyone in my circle of friends who hasn’t fucked Kristoph Gavin?” He grimaced, low over the table, and grabbed his napkin, wincing as he went to smooth his hair, and apologize. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. I was just surprised.”
Justine coughed, and her face turned bright red. She fanned herself with a quick glance around the restaurant.
“My WORD Mr. Edgeworth! He’s always been…a passionate man. I suppose I’m not surprised. But ah, yes.” She brushed her hair over her ear “…a power couple. I regret that my duties made it difficult to see him in the years leading up to… his ‘mistakes’.”
Miles rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re hardly his keeper, Justine, whatever your relationship might have been.”
“I know, I know..” she leaned on her hand “it’s just difficult to see what’s become of him since then.” With a sigh, she shook her head. “Regardless…he’s going to be back in my court soon enough.”
“I’m sorry about that,” he sighed. She watched him add yet another sugar packet to his dwindling coffee. “It’s been causing a lot of distress in general, and I’ve been reminding everyone, and myself, that we have to stay impartial about this.”
Justine blinked at him quietly for a moment. He..didn’t quite get the right emotional read there, but she felt almost bad correcting him.
In truth, she was excited to see Kristoph back in the courtroom. Interested to see where he would go from there, despite the pain and distrust of his past behavior. The betrayal of his fall to criminality. That old spark of affection refused to die, despite her impartiality of judgment and action.
She kept the objection to herself with a gentle smile. “It’s alright. I suppose we’ll see what he makes of himself…I hear he’s also…made a friend.”
“You mean Vera Misham? If there’s someone else I’d like to hear it.” Miles sounded a bit exasperated– even exhausted.
“Oh I’m sure there’s others.” Justine chuckled grimly. “…but no I do mean Miss Misham.”
He leaned on his hand. “Yes, I discovered recently that they’ve been corresponding for some time. I had a serious discussion the other night about how worried I ought to be about it.”
“I’m curious your conclusion on that , actually,“ Justine mused. “I’ve read some of the letters for myself. I did my research before visiting Kris, after all.”
"I’m glad to hear it. I have to say I’m interested in your perspective, since it seems you have a longer one than the most of us,” he said. “Provisionally, my judgment is that Vera Misham is an adult, and my interference in her friendships– however strange or unsavory I might find them– would be stepping on her autonomy.”
“I would agree with that, honestly.” Justine chuckled softly. “…though something Kris said to me took me aback. I admit I’m not close with young Misham, but…well…he said ‘people often forget to ask her about herself’. Has anyone asked her what she feels about him? About their ‘friendship’?”
“Ah– I have no idea, honestly. My sense is that they haven’t,” he said. “Its… interesting that Kristoph said that to you. As neither of them has mentioned their letters to me at any point. Nor do I think they’ve mentioned them to anyone else. I found them by accident, and my impression was that they were meant to be an open secret.”
Interested that Kristoph said that… Was Miles suggesting that Kristoph was trying to manipulate her perception of the relationship?
She supposed it was possible. The logical part of her certainly saw it as so. But her old ties to sentimentality left her hoping Kristoph wouldn’t try to play head games with her he knew he would lose.
She sipped her coffee.
“Interesting, The way he phrased it…I think he was implying people tend to speak for her.” She closed her eyes. “…perhaps it was him expressing irritation with all the people interrogating him on the subject.”
“Justine I hate to say this, but as far as I’m aware, you’re the first person who’s asked him about it at all. He doesn’t get many visitors, and I haven’t raised the question since I haven’t seen him since I discovered it.”
Justine’s eyes widened. “Oh. Hm. I certainly didn’t expect to be the first…”
“Indeed,” Miles sighed and shook his head. “I’m afraid you were. That said, you at least, may have a point about people speaking for Vera and making assumptions rather than asking her what she wants…”
“Why thank you, Miles.” she chuckled. “…it seems to be an unfortunate problem…likely due to her tendency to be rather quiet.”
“Yes, she has difficulty self-advocating,” Miles said with a sigh. He finished his coffee and gestured for a refill as the waiter passed. “I have to admit, I’ve probably played into that. You know I can be a little overprotective. But now she is self-advocating. To be put in charge of Kristoph Gavin.”
Justine froze halfway through waving for more coffee herself “…she said what?”
“She wants to be put in charge of him as his detective. In five days time she’s entering Police Academy to become a detective and forensic investigator. Something that the two of them seem to have discussed extensively in their letters.”
“My my…” she brushed her fingers against the gavel at her hip. “I did see some mention of her joining the academy in what I skimmed…she wants to be assigned to him, then?”
It seemed the girl’s attachment to Kristoph’s magnetic charm was stronger than she’d thought. Not that she could blame her– back in Themis, she’d been drawn to him too. The power couple who’d change the face of Law and Order once they graduated; the long nights on campus where neither of them were supposed to be instead of going home.
“Are you going to authorize it if she graduates?”
“Despite my better judgment, I’ve all but promised to.” He sighed. “I spent the last day or so skimming their letters just to be sure, but– if he manipulated her into this, it was so subtle even a suspicious mind like my own can’t see it.”
Justine nodded slowly.
“Yes…I was certain you’d say that.” She leaned on her hand again “it sounds as if they talked about a possibility and she became enamored with it– and she came up with the desire to work with him on her own. Kristoph…he’s done some terrible things, but not everything he does is a grand manipulation.”
“…during Themis, I can say for certain it wasn’t. Half of the nonsense situations we got into wouldn’t make any sense as part of some ‘greater plan’.“
"I’ll be honest, Justine,” Miles sighed. “His crimes don’t really make sense as some part of ‘greater plan’ either. For all that I want to accuse Kristioph Gavin of manipulation– and I do, and I’m sure he’s guilty of it– I don’t know. He tried to poison her, but all of his advice that I’ve read between them seems… really genuine. Solid. It makes me feel a bit inadequate.”
Act first– act passionately– and then come up with a grand and intricate scheme to make it work in the aftermath. That’s what Kristoph had been like in high school.
It’d been one of the things they’d bonded over at first. Act first– act passionately– it was advice that worked as well in the ring as it did in the courtroom or during investigations. He’d always been like that, in a way that drew her in.
She didn’t see that as having changed at all.
“It likely is genuine, Miles…though I’m sorry to hear it makes you feel inadequate. I’m certain you’ve been a wealth of advice and attention for the poor dear” she sighed. “…in school, he always was the type to passionately rush in– and then engineer whatever scheme or trick around mitigating or getting the best result out of what came after. Same as me, with that whole Blaise affair.”
“I suppose that does track,” he murmured, crossing his arms over the table. “With his behavior. Order an expensive forgery before you’re even certain you need it. Forge evidence and realize you’ve got a mess to clean up afterward and engineer a murder. Club a man over the head for being a terrible father and then manipulate the crime scene…”
She spread her hands. “All leading to a series of terrible choices, and attempts to mitigate them that turn into a disaster…and land him in jail when the threads are untangled…. I love…d…Kristoph Gavin.”
Closing her eyes, she sighed. The past tense was ambiguous even in her own mind. “But I also knew him better than most, and hearing everything that he’s done– lining it up with his behavior– it makes sense with the man I knew, even if I’m left asking ‘why didn’t you just ask for help, you prideful fool’. “
“Prideful fool might be enough to explain it,” Miles sighed. He took a sip of his coffee. “I can understand some of it. Back in those days especially, you know? Obviously I don’t condone attempted murder, or forged evidence, but we both know it was prosecutorial standard de rigueur at the time. I can imagine Gavin thinking that what’s good for the goose was good for the gander. A little cheating on both sides– to make things fair.”
That sounded very much like the Kristoph Gavin Justine had known in school. A little cheating to make things fair– and then realizing he had to find some way not to get caught.
She laughed, though there was more pain in it than she expected.
“He was always fond of trying to ‘make things fair’ in his way…a little cheating here and there to tip the scales into equilibrium. Of course, every time he tried it was a whole thing to try and save face without being caught.” Her smile spoke to the fond memories that flashed through her mind. “He and I always did love our little machinations, even if we debated where the line should be drawn endlessly.”
“Maybe if he really just got… carried away… I ought to be more open to giving him a second chance this way.” He rubbed his jaw stiffly. “I’m giving Lana Skye her chance, and lady justice knows the kind of things she was accessory to. And Diego Armando– who very much did kill someone.”
“And let’s not forget Interpol’s love of forgiveness.” Justine leaned on her hand with a soft sigh. “Was what he did reprehensible…yes, absolutely. But Lady Justice is a merciful Goddess, and in her will we must acknowledge…if they deserve a second chance…”
She gestured towards him with fingers spread and a beatific smile “then Kris deserves the same.”
“I suppose there really is no escaping that conclusion,” Miles nodded. He picked up his coffee. “Lady Justice is merciful– and we’re trying to bring more of her justice and her mercy to our courts. I can only hope that our faith won’t be thrown in our faces.”
“Let us pray.” Justine chuckled “…and selfishly, I’m hoping Krisoph behaves.”
She picked up her coffee with a soft huff of breath. “now…how about you catch me up on everything else that I’ve missed lately, dear Mr. Edgeworth.”
September 2, 2028 – 8:15 pm
Three days ago, Vera had talked to Klavier Gavin, who had revealed a lot of secrets about his brother, her beloved guardian angel.
Two days from now, she’d be moving into her dorm at the police academy, where she’d study for ten months to become a detective.
A few hours ago, Klavier Gavin had texted her, and asked if she wanted to go out drinking with him– to celebrate her new path of education; and she had said yes.
Vera Misahm had a lot on her mind. The anticipation– excitement, fear and concern– of the police academy hung heavy on her shoulders even as she puttered around her apartment with the desperate hope that it may relieve some of the pent up anxiety.
Pearl would be a comfort…the academy would be a grueling slog through unpredictable social interactions, exercises that would test her body and mind, and the need to constantly prove herself as more than ‘weak and frail Vera Misham of the first Jurist Trial ever conducted’.
It was terrifying. It was necessary. She had to become a forensic investigator no matter what.
As she dropped herself at her drafting table she looked down at the half finished painting before her.
Strings hanging down from a dark attic and ensnaring the half formed figures below in tangled knots as they stood within a courtroom.
That brought to mind the other heavy and confusing weight around her neck.
The Gavin Family secret– and the secrets of her guardian angel and her own admissions about his hold on her heart.
Vera brushed her fingers over one of the sketched strings to the figure below.
‘The one lie you must never believe– that you are the only one’. That was the line that kept coming back to her in strange waves of emotions she couldn’t understand.
Was it desire? A sick eagerness that hammered in her heart, a curiosity to know who else was tangled in his web alongside her. Would she want to help them? Or draw them deeper in? Did the idea of not being the only one excite her?
Was it jealousy? The sick and cloying feeling in her ribs that lead her to worry if she’d be discarded. She remembered– remembered Klavier’s smile as he called himself useless.The hold Kristoph still held on him even in his fury– and the acceptance of her into their twisted family. Was it any worse than her own?
And why, despite the darkness and the jaws of the trap as they snapped around her, was she so happy?
Why was she so certain that the very acceptance Klavier showed her as he embraced her tight would be the thing to seal her into Kristoph’s life forever?
She knew what it felt like. It felt like surrendering to her wish.
To be his. His detective. His adored detective.
Her heart beat in her chest as her shoulders shook. Her guardian angel was a demon for certain. A twisted devil drawing her into his web of emotional conquests and leaving her head spinning as she rested her face against the canvas with shaking breaths.
She couldn’t help but feel the pangs of guilt as she thought of how badly she might disappoint them– Miles Edgeworth who’d done so much for her; been a fatherly and warm presence since she woke up from her coma. Trucy– who’s own history with the man was complicated and fraught.
And Klavier, who held her with barely restrained tears and welcomed her to the family and what he knew would be surefire heartbreak.
None of them would be happy with her secret desires.
None of them could dissuade her from the thorny path she’d chosen.
All this and more was still circling her mind when she got the text from Klavier that he was outside.
Will you come out, liebchen? Or shall I come in?
She startled at the buzzing of her phone, even as it brought a smile to her face
Come in. I’ll just be grabbing my purse.
A moment later and Klavier let himself in. He didn’t knock, and her door was unlocked.
“Guten Abend, liebchen!” he cooed as he shut the door behind himself.
“Guten Abend, Klavier!” Vera dipped into a curtsy. Her outfit was a little more ornate tonight, a pretty dark retro dress with a fringe of deep blue lace and a bow at the back. Something Trucy had told her while shopping was a ‘gothic lolita’ kind of look that she thought might look nice on her. It matched the ribbon she wound through her braid, and brushed around her stockinged legs as she dipped.
“I’ve never been out drinking before…” She gave him a small smile. “So make sure I don’t go too crazy…”
“I promise, liebling!” he grinned, putting his hand on his heart. “Well, to the best of my ability in any case! But look at you! I love your dress! I was thinking perhaps we’d have to go out shopping first, but you’re all set!”
Klavier himself was dressed much like he’d been when she went to visit him– in another belly shirt with low jeans and crossed belts. But this time he was absolutely covered in jewelry– and what appeared to be body glitter.
“Trucy took me out shopping recently and absolutely insisted on this one.” Vera flushed with a little twirl. When she came to rest, the flush only worsened. The man was practically sparkling in her hallway light. “You look great…like…a star. The uhm…astral one. Not …the kind you already are..”
He laughed happily and put a hand on her shoulder. “Too much, ja? But I like it. It’s not like I won’t need a shower in a few hours anyway.”
“Just enough.” She said with a little smile, bumping him with her shoulder. “as long as you don’t blind the other motorists on the ro—”
She paused and thought for a moment “we’re going to take a taxi or the bus, right?”
He laughed again and bumped her shoulder with his in return. “Ja, ja liebling! I’m not that crazy I promise. The taxi is waiting outside for us. It’s no problem.”
“Then you won’t blind the motorists…a-and you probably won’t be mistaken for a disco ball.”
She lightly teased him as she pulled her purse onto her shoulder.
“I’m ready, Klavier.”
“I won’t mind too much being mistaken for a disco ball if it means eyes are on me and they throw me around,” he teased back. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to the door.
She walked closer to him, trembling with excitement and nerves. She’d put on perfume– it was an outing after all, with her guardian angel’s handsome brother. She couldn’t help but wonder if Klavier recognized the scent as he did her shampoo when he’d first caught her in her admiration.
It was one Kristoph had recommended, after all.
She laughed, her hand covering her mouth as she looked up at him.
“as long as they don’t carry you away. I’m going to be sticking to your side all night.”
“You had better! Gott! I would throw myself off a bridge if something happened to you.” He walked a little closer to her still, and waved at the taxi waiting outside her curb. “But let’s not speak of these things. You smell very nice.”
Vera flushed, and her smile grew a little wider.
“Thank you…I figured if we’re going out, I-I should wear one of the good perfumes I’d gotten.” She gave a nervous little wave at the taxi, her short heels clicking on the concrete sidewalk.
“Another of his, I imagine?” he teased. He opened the taxi door for her, and bowed like she was a princess.
“We already know I can’t fool you, Klavier,” she dipped into another curtsy before she slipped inside with a nod “it is. I ah, I actually bought some shortly after the first few letters.”
“The first few, ja?” He slid into the taxi next to her. “Is it something that brings you comfort? You can tell me to shut up, by the way.”
“I don’t want to…” she shifted in the seat until she rested her head near his shoulder. “I like your voice– and conversation.”
She gave him a timid smile. “It is..it brings me a lot of comfort. When I was feeling especially anxious about the outside, I’d sometimes put some on…b-but I’d always wash it off if someone like Mr. Edgeworth or Mr. Wright were visiting.”
“Hah! Probably a good idea with Mr. Wright at least.” He leaned toward her, shaking his head and smiling widely. “Even though that’s a shame. It’s nice to wear it tonight. It’ll be nice to smell like something more than alcohol!”
Tonight, Klavier smelled quite strongly too– a musky odor mixed with what might have been orange blossoms. It was a low, seductive kind of scent, completely different to the kinds of scents in her own, Kristoph-advised, cabinet.
“It will be! Alcohol’s a bit of an…intense smell.“ She rested her face against him for a moment, taking in the scent with eyes closed. “You smell really nice too…please don’t mind if I stay close…you’re likely to smell better than anything at the bar.”
He scooted even closer to her and put his arm around her again as the taxi wove through the dim streets.
"Ja, unless you find a dance partner you think smells nicer. But thank you for saying so. My brother once said, ‘Klavier, you say you like to smell like a man, but I think you really like to smell like men.’” He chuckled and shook his head. “Not entirely wrong.”
It took a minute for it to fully click in Vera’s head. When it did, she turned a vivid pink.
“Oh.” She leaned against him with a shy laugh. “I m-mean, if that’s what it smells like I can’t b-blame you!”
He winked at her. “Too kind, liebling. So– you’ve never been drinking. I assume you haven’t been dancing, either?”
Vera shook her head with a laugh. “N-not even once. Though when I was younger I’d sometimes try dancing to music on our radio when father was out of the house.”
“You’ll enjoy this, then,” he promised. “Especially after the first drink makes it easier to dance in front of others.”
She looked up at him with her serious stare, before she nodded. “I know you won’t let me embarrass myself, so I’ll follow your lead.”
“The wonderful thing, fraulein, is it is almost entirely impossible to embarrass yourself in front of drunk people!”
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