Those Seven Years
First Year-April 30th 2019
Even until now, Phoenix still couldn’t believe it.
Disbarred for forging evidence in court.
How? Just how did it happen? There was only nothing but questions upon questions in the ending of State vs Enigmar. Why was he passed that forged diary page-and by the girl herself, no less? Was someone out there to get him off the courts; well if so, then his or her objective was pretty much fucking accomplished. Now he was disbarred, his badge gone, his life wrecked-everything that he had ever fought and believed and lived for was all gone now. Gone deep into the drain and never coming back.
But even then, he could not cry. He couldn’t bring himself to cry-not now, when everything was nothing but a huge giant mystery that was just going to be left unsolved forever. Phoenix would be damned before he would let it happen; the truth must be known to everyone someday. The truth couldn’t hide forever. It would reveal itself eventually, and Phoenix swore he would be there when it happened-and he would make it happen, no matter how much or long it would take.
Even if it was going to take seven years, he would do it. He would wait for as long as he could until proper justice was served to the right individual.
He would wait. He could wait. And as long as the real criminal was free, he would never rest until the day justice was done.
And so began the works for a play of seven long years.
Second Year-February 8th 2020
It had been ten months since the conclusion of State vs Enigmar.
Ten months since his attorney’s badge was stripped from him by a unanimous vote (save one, but that really didn’t count considering who it was).
Ten months since Trucy Enigmar lost her father.
It had been a hard battle-the courts were so different when you were no longer an attorney but just a person along with the many other persons here and there all over the country. The odds had been all but against him, skeptical looks and furtive glances cast at him as all Phoenix could do was to sit at his spot on the bench and tell himself not to shout and do his usual lawyer stuff, because he was no longer a lawyer and he’d be only held in contempt of court if he did so.
Now did he only realize just how powerless he was for not being a lawyer. He had no rights, no rules-everything was only decided by one man and his gavel, the testimony his rules. Rules that were all too easily bended to one’s will.
But still, he had fought on. He fought and never gave in to whatever the courts threw at him, because it’d be all over from the moment he gave up. Everything that he did would be for nothing. He couldn’t give up. Not when things had only started. And in the end, his perseverance won out.
Trucy Enigmar Wright.
Phoenix looked fondly at the adoption papers that bore the girl’s name and his. Trucy grinned happily when she saw the papers later before proceeding to tackle down her new Daddy with a huge glomp and a hug.
Third Year-June 13th 2021
Three years after he left, Miles Edgeworth came back into his life.
It had been sudden and unexpected. Phoenix had only just returned home form work (which involved doing various odd jobs around the place-it was good to have extra skills in handy after all in times like these) when Trucy bounded into the living room from the hallway, a huge grin that signaled mischief, excitement and mirth all at once. Phoenix asked what was it that made Trucy so happy today and the girl only giggled and replied with a cheeky grin.
“I know something that Daddy doesn’t!”
Confused, Phoenix asked Trucy to tell him just what was it that he didn’t know, but the nine-going-on-ten-year-old only giggled and told him that if he wanted to know, then he should check out room 4423 of the Gatewater Hotel later tonight-and he had better do it soon too because otherwise he might regret it.
He still didn’t quite understand what the girl meant, and he had almost forgotten about it until he had tucked Trucy into bed and was well on his way on going to bed as well after a few cans of beer when those words returned to him again. In a drunken haze and state of mind, Phoenix thought it’d be a good idea to check this out-especially since it was two in the morning.
Needless to say, the receptionist was more than annoyed when Phoenix entered the lobby and demanded a contact with the person staying in the room 4423. Fifteen minutes later, Miles Edgeworth came down from the staircase.
“…Miles,” breathed the man the moment he laid his eyes on the prosecutor.
There was a long pause from the silver-haired man before he exhaled aloud and looked back at him. “…Wright.”
“You’re back.”
“…yes, I’m back.”
Fourth Year-September 11th 2022
“Welcome to the Borscht Bowl Club! What can I get for you today, sir?”
Phoenix shifted around on his feet (partly because he was nervous, and partly because goddammit it was fucking cold in here) for a few moments before he reached into his suit and took out a newspaper clipping with the text ‘HIRED WORK NEEDED’ printed upon it in large bold letters. “I-I’m here for th-the job.”
The waitress gave him a skeptical look over, one eyebrow raised. “Are you sure you’re here for the job, and not the Wonder Bar?”
“My daughter’s already working there.”
“…”
The man tried not to chatter his teeth too much as he shivered with the air-conditioning blowing all over the place. “S-So can I t-try out f-for the job?” If he didn’t get a stable job soon, Phoenix was pretty sure that Edgeworth was going to kill him-and it was for the best anyway. He couldn’t depend on the other man forever.
There was something of a stunned pause from the woman before she gathered back her wits and nodded briskly. “Of course. Right this way, sir,” she said before turning and heading towards the back of the restaurant. Phoenix followed her and sat down at the gestured seat before she left to go get the manager. A minute or so later, a strange gentleman came up to his table and invited Phoenix to a game of poker.
With nothing left to loose, the man agreed.
After winning seven games in a row, Phoenix was officially given a job at the Borscht Bowl Club.
He began to see Kristoph Gavin on a regularly basis at the Club barely a month later.
Fifth Year-January 7th 2023
“AHCHOO!!”
Edgeworth wrinkled his nose in mild distaste as Phoenix sniffled and blew his nose rather loudly into the tissue he held. “Bless you, Wright.”
“’anks Miles but ahh-ACHOO!!”
Trucy poked her head through the open door, a visibly annoyed look across her face. “Daddy! Don’t be so loud-I’m trying to master a trick here!”
“’orry Truce but ahh-ACHOO!!”
“This is getting ridiculous,” the silver-haired man muttered as he brought out another box of tissues, the one Phoenix had just used being the last tissue in the box that Wright had used up. In two hours. “Can’t you choose to work somewhere that doesn’t give you a cold every ten minutes?”
“But Miles you ‘aid I needed to get a job and so I did-if I ‘uit ‘ow it’d take forever before I can find anoth-ACHOO!!”
The prosecutor sighed and ran a hand wearily through his hair and passed over the new box of tissues as Phoenix groped around blearily for one to blow his nose into again. At least the wastepaper basket was easily manageable-all he had to do was to squash the tissues down and made sure that Pess wasn’t liable to dig through them anytime soon. “Once you get better, we’re going down to the mall and get you something suitable to wear to that place you work.”
As it turns out, Phoenix’s idea of suitable was a jacket, undershirt and sweatpants. Edgeworth was less than amused, but hey, at least the other wasn’t out to sneeze on him every single minute now.
Sixth Year-October 31st 2024
“You haven’t been here for a while already, Wright. What’s with the sudden interest?”
Phoenix struggled to keep the expression on his face neutral as he replied as courteously as possible to the other man. “Well I just haven’t been here for awhile.”
Kristoph only chuckled slightly at that comment. “And that’s just what I said.” Had it been anyone else, they sure would not have noticed the slight tone of annoyance and haughtiness that laid in there. But Phoenix wasn’t just anyone-he was the man whom Kristoph loathed the most, and the one who knew the best just exactly what sort of man Kristoph Gavin was : a lying two-faced bastard who deserved to die.
The pianist looked around the office as they headed down the path to Kristoph’s own room. “You’re keeping the place as neat as usual,” he noted with a tone of mild disinterest.
“I find tidiness a good habit,” the blond replied as he absently brushed back a stray lock of hair that had fallen over his face. “A habit that you and your daughter need to pick up on, if I daresay so.”
Phoenix only chuckled in response, the laughter falling fake on his own ears. “I’ll think about it.” Only that he knew he wouldn’t.
“M-Mr. Gavin!”
Both men perked up when that voice called from across the hallway, and Phoenix Wright saw Apollo Justice for the first time. The youngster of twenty one years of age panted as he ran to the defense attorney, catching his breath as he bent over to take in some air. “I’ve… gotten the… papers you wanted…”
“…thank you, Justice,” Kristoph replied mildly before he extended a hand to take said papers. Apollo paused for a bit to get his lungs in order before he handed over the papers to the elder man-and Phoenix saw the bracelet.
An all too familiar bracelet.
From that moment on, the man knew that endgame was soon to arrive.
Seventh Year-October 9th 2025
After seven years, it was finally all over. Kristoph was found guilty of all the crimes that he committed, Vera was spared a horrible fate, Shadi’s death was avenged and most of all, justice was served.
The pianist slumped over his couch, a bottle of grape juice in hand, half-lidded eyes staring blankly at nothing. In the end, he had won, but to what cost? Because of this, he had to get closer to Kristoph-a fact that disgusted Miles. Edgeworth had not taken too kindly to this at all, and once he had found out about what he had been doing all this time the prosecutor was less than pleased. And while Phoenix knew he could just tell everything to Edgeworth, he chose not to-not when the end was so so close. He had waited so long for this day to come.
As much as he wanted Edgeworth beside him, he couldn’t sacrifice something so selfish for something as important as this. So he made the only choice he could and pushed the other away-at least like this, Kristoph wouldn’t come to harm him just as he almost did to so many other people.
But at least now, it was all over. The nightmare of seven long years had finally lifted… lifted to a path of solitude.
Phoenix took a swig from his bottle, ignoring the noise of the door turning open-must be Trucy finally returning home after celebrating with Apollo over their victory…
“…Wright.”
His blood froze at the voice that called his name, and Phoenix turned-eyes stunned wide with disbelief as he looked at the figure of Miles Edgeworth right beside him.
“Edgeworth…” Phoenix could feel his voice starting to break there and then. Why did you return I thought you were going to leave me for good and-his thoughts stopped when the silver-haired man stepped up towards him and pulled him into a rough embrace.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you, Phoenix. I’m sorry,” the man muttered quietly to his ear.
Before the pianist knew it, he had burst into tears, distant memories brining back a phrase he had heard so long ago.
A lawyer can’t cry until its over.
And now, it was indeed all truly over. Phoenix could have never asked for a better ending, as Edgeworth entangled his fingers into his hair under the beanie and pulled him in for a kiss.
Even until now, Phoenix still couldn’t believe it.
Disbarred for forging evidence in court.
How? Just how did it happen? There was only nothing but questions upon questions in the ending of State vs Enigmar. Why was he passed that forged diary page-and by the girl herself, no less? Was someone out there to get him off the courts; well if so, then his or her objective was pretty much fucking accomplished. Now he was disbarred, his badge gone, his life wrecked-everything that he had ever fought and believed and lived for was all gone now. Gone deep into the drain and never coming back.
But even then, he could not cry. He couldn’t bring himself to cry-not now, when everything was nothing but a huge giant mystery that was just going to be left unsolved forever. Phoenix would be damned before he would let it happen; the truth must be known to everyone someday. The truth couldn’t hide forever. It would reveal itself eventually, and Phoenix swore he would be there when it happened-and he would make it happen, no matter how much or long it would take.
Even if it was going to take seven years, he would do it. He would wait for as long as he could until proper justice was served to the right individual.
He would wait. He could wait. And as long as the real criminal was free, he would never rest until the day justice was done.
And so began the works for a play of seven long years.
Second Year-February 8th 2020
It had been ten months since the conclusion of State vs Enigmar.
Ten months since his attorney’s badge was stripped from him by a unanimous vote (save one, but that really didn’t count considering who it was).
Ten months since Trucy Enigmar lost her father.
It had been a hard battle-the courts were so different when you were no longer an attorney but just a person along with the many other persons here and there all over the country. The odds had been all but against him, skeptical looks and furtive glances cast at him as all Phoenix could do was to sit at his spot on the bench and tell himself not to shout and do his usual lawyer stuff, because he was no longer a lawyer and he’d be only held in contempt of court if he did so.
Now did he only realize just how powerless he was for not being a lawyer. He had no rights, no rules-everything was only decided by one man and his gavel, the testimony his rules. Rules that were all too easily bended to one’s will.
But still, he had fought on. He fought and never gave in to whatever the courts threw at him, because it’d be all over from the moment he gave up. Everything that he did would be for nothing. He couldn’t give up. Not when things had only started. And in the end, his perseverance won out.
Trucy Enigmar Wright.
Phoenix looked fondly at the adoption papers that bore the girl’s name and his. Trucy grinned happily when she saw the papers later before proceeding to tackle down her new Daddy with a huge glomp and a hug.
Third Year-June 13th 2021
Three years after he left, Miles Edgeworth came back into his life.
It had been sudden and unexpected. Phoenix had only just returned home form work (which involved doing various odd jobs around the place-it was good to have extra skills in handy after all in times like these) when Trucy bounded into the living room from the hallway, a huge grin that signaled mischief, excitement and mirth all at once. Phoenix asked what was it that made Trucy so happy today and the girl only giggled and replied with a cheeky grin.
“I know something that Daddy doesn’t!”
Confused, Phoenix asked Trucy to tell him just what was it that he didn’t know, but the nine-going-on-ten-year-old only giggled and told him that if he wanted to know, then he should check out room 4423 of the Gatewater Hotel later tonight-and he had better do it soon too because otherwise he might regret it.
He still didn’t quite understand what the girl meant, and he had almost forgotten about it until he had tucked Trucy into bed and was well on his way on going to bed as well after a few cans of beer when those words returned to him again. In a drunken haze and state of mind, Phoenix thought it’d be a good idea to check this out-especially since it was two in the morning.
Needless to say, the receptionist was more than annoyed when Phoenix entered the lobby and demanded a contact with the person staying in the room 4423. Fifteen minutes later, Miles Edgeworth came down from the staircase.
“…Miles,” breathed the man the moment he laid his eyes on the prosecutor.
There was a long pause from the silver-haired man before he exhaled aloud and looked back at him. “…Wright.”
“You’re back.”
“…yes, I’m back.”
Fourth Year-September 11th 2022
“Welcome to the Borscht Bowl Club! What can I get for you today, sir?”
Phoenix shifted around on his feet (partly because he was nervous, and partly because goddammit it was fucking cold in here) for a few moments before he reached into his suit and took out a newspaper clipping with the text ‘HIRED WORK NEEDED’ printed upon it in large bold letters. “I-I’m here for th-the job.”
The waitress gave him a skeptical look over, one eyebrow raised. “Are you sure you’re here for the job, and not the Wonder Bar?”
“My daughter’s already working there.”
“…”
The man tried not to chatter his teeth too much as he shivered with the air-conditioning blowing all over the place. “S-So can I t-try out f-for the job?” If he didn’t get a stable job soon, Phoenix was pretty sure that Edgeworth was going to kill him-and it was for the best anyway. He couldn’t depend on the other man forever.
There was something of a stunned pause from the woman before she gathered back her wits and nodded briskly. “Of course. Right this way, sir,” she said before turning and heading towards the back of the restaurant. Phoenix followed her and sat down at the gestured seat before she left to go get the manager. A minute or so later, a strange gentleman came up to his table and invited Phoenix to a game of poker.
With nothing left to loose, the man agreed.
After winning seven games in a row, Phoenix was officially given a job at the Borscht Bowl Club.
He began to see Kristoph Gavin on a regularly basis at the Club barely a month later.
Fifth Year-January 7th 2023
“AHCHOO!!”
Edgeworth wrinkled his nose in mild distaste as Phoenix sniffled and blew his nose rather loudly into the tissue he held. “Bless you, Wright.”
“’anks Miles but ahh-ACHOO!!”
Trucy poked her head through the open door, a visibly annoyed look across her face. “Daddy! Don’t be so loud-I’m trying to master a trick here!”
“’orry Truce but ahh-ACHOO!!”
“This is getting ridiculous,” the silver-haired man muttered as he brought out another box of tissues, the one Phoenix had just used being the last tissue in the box that Wright had used up. In two hours. “Can’t you choose to work somewhere that doesn’t give you a cold every ten minutes?”
“But Miles you ‘aid I needed to get a job and so I did-if I ‘uit ‘ow it’d take forever before I can find anoth-ACHOO!!”
The prosecutor sighed and ran a hand wearily through his hair and passed over the new box of tissues as Phoenix groped around blearily for one to blow his nose into again. At least the wastepaper basket was easily manageable-all he had to do was to squash the tissues down and made sure that Pess wasn’t liable to dig through them anytime soon. “Once you get better, we’re going down to the mall and get you something suitable to wear to that place you work.”
As it turns out, Phoenix’s idea of suitable was a jacket, undershirt and sweatpants. Edgeworth was less than amused, but hey, at least the other wasn’t out to sneeze on him every single minute now.
Sixth Year-October 31st 2024
“You haven’t been here for a while already, Wright. What’s with the sudden interest?”
Phoenix struggled to keep the expression on his face neutral as he replied as courteously as possible to the other man. “Well I just haven’t been here for awhile.”
Kristoph only chuckled slightly at that comment. “And that’s just what I said.” Had it been anyone else, they sure would not have noticed the slight tone of annoyance and haughtiness that laid in there. But Phoenix wasn’t just anyone-he was the man whom Kristoph loathed the most, and the one who knew the best just exactly what sort of man Kristoph Gavin was : a lying two-faced bastard who deserved to die.
The pianist looked around the office as they headed down the path to Kristoph’s own room. “You’re keeping the place as neat as usual,” he noted with a tone of mild disinterest.
“I find tidiness a good habit,” the blond replied as he absently brushed back a stray lock of hair that had fallen over his face. “A habit that you and your daughter need to pick up on, if I daresay so.”
Phoenix only chuckled in response, the laughter falling fake on his own ears. “I’ll think about it.” Only that he knew he wouldn’t.
“M-Mr. Gavin!”
Both men perked up when that voice called from across the hallway, and Phoenix Wright saw Apollo Justice for the first time. The youngster of twenty one years of age panted as he ran to the defense attorney, catching his breath as he bent over to take in some air. “I’ve… gotten the… papers you wanted…”
“…thank you, Justice,” Kristoph replied mildly before he extended a hand to take said papers. Apollo paused for a bit to get his lungs in order before he handed over the papers to the elder man-and Phoenix saw the bracelet.
An all too familiar bracelet.
From that moment on, the man knew that endgame was soon to arrive.
Seventh Year-October 9th 2025
After seven years, it was finally all over. Kristoph was found guilty of all the crimes that he committed, Vera was spared a horrible fate, Shadi’s death was avenged and most of all, justice was served.
The pianist slumped over his couch, a bottle of grape juice in hand, half-lidded eyes staring blankly at nothing. In the end, he had won, but to what cost? Because of this, he had to get closer to Kristoph-a fact that disgusted Miles. Edgeworth had not taken too kindly to this at all, and once he had found out about what he had been doing all this time the prosecutor was less than pleased. And while Phoenix knew he could just tell everything to Edgeworth, he chose not to-not when the end was so so close. He had waited so long for this day to come.
As much as he wanted Edgeworth beside him, he couldn’t sacrifice something so selfish for something as important as this. So he made the only choice he could and pushed the other away-at least like this, Kristoph wouldn’t come to harm him just as he almost did to so many other people.
But at least now, it was all over. The nightmare of seven long years had finally lifted… lifted to a path of solitude.
Phoenix took a swig from his bottle, ignoring the noise of the door turning open-must be Trucy finally returning home after celebrating with Apollo over their victory…
“…Wright.”
His blood froze at the voice that called his name, and Phoenix turned-eyes stunned wide with disbelief as he looked at the figure of Miles Edgeworth right beside him.
“Edgeworth…” Phoenix could feel his voice starting to break there and then. Why did you return I thought you were going to leave me for good and-his thoughts stopped when the silver-haired man stepped up towards him and pulled him into a rough embrace.
“I shouldn’t have doubted you, Phoenix. I’m sorry,” the man muttered quietly to his ear.
Before the pianist knew it, he had burst into tears, distant memories brining back a phrase he had heard so long ago.
A lawyer can’t cry until its over.
And now, it was indeed all truly over. Phoenix could have never asked for a better ending, as Edgeworth entangled his fingers into his hair under the beanie and pulled him in for a kiss.