One Good Turn Deserves: A Turnabout Histories Fic, Part I

[madimpossibledreamer]

Happy Christmas Eve or other assorted holiday!

Main Points:
Ace Attorney AU
Summary: Edgeworth has been acting strangely lately.
Rating: G?
Word Count: 785

 

                Edgeworth can only hover about uncertainly for so long before he has to leave.  At first, Wright thinks it’s because of the Steel Samurai marathon on TV, but steel grey eyes barely even glance in that direction.  His pacing finally lands him uncomfortably close behind Phoenix.  Ordinarily ignoring this odd behavior would cause Edgeworth to get vaguely embarrassed and leave.

                It doesn’t.  Nick is almost ready to speak up when Miles’ voice interrupts him, “Don’t let Maya touch the oven.”  He and Phoenix stare at each other for a minute, then the man adds, “Actually, don’t you dare touch it yourself.”

                Maya laughs, but it’s the laugh of a woman low on patience.  “Miles-kun, stop acting like we’re going to burn down the house when you’re gone and just go.”

                This earns a glare, but there’s something off about it, like Edgeworth doesn’t actually have his heart behind it.  Wright figures he’ll distract his friend.  “Have fun, Edgeworth!”

                He can’t read the look in Edgeworth’s eyes, but he can see the way Miles bites his lips as this one always does when he’s unsure.  Miles looks away and shakes his head.  “You as well, Phoenix,” he states, barely audible, and leaves.

                Nick waits until he’s sure Edgeworth drove off before glancing at Maya, who’s carefully making some sort of…well, it might be an ornament.  “It’s a Kurain tradition, and Miles has never been very good at making them,” Maya explains matter-of-factly.

                “I’m worried about him,” Phoenix admits.  It seems safe to admit that now, like Edgeworth won’t somehow hear and do…something he won’t like.  He’s not sure how Defense Attorney Edgeworth would punish for perceived slights, and he definitely seems like he keeps a grudge less than his Prosecutor counterpart, but he really doesn’t want to tempt fate.

                Maya sighs but doesn’t look up from what she’s doing.  “He’s always been like this, every Christmas.  I try, but I’m not very good at calming him down.  Mia was so much better at it, but then, the two of them were so alike.  Always so serious.  They had a language all their own.”  Maya’s sad, and Phoenix can recognize the look in her eyes.  She hadn’t just lost her sister, she’d lost Miles too, in a way.  No longer able to get her sister’s help when Miles was being moody or any of the other difficulties he was prone to doing.

                Of course, he should’ve thought of that.  Gregory Edgeworth’s loss still haunted him, even this version.  He’s caught up enough in that that he almost doesn’t notice the commercials are on until Maya comments, “Really, Nick, you’re not as bad as I thought.”

                He glances up at her, astonished, and is even more confused when she’s not even looking at him.  She’s staring at the TV.

                Phoenix glances up, and there’s a commercial on that makes him forget what he’d even been about to say.  The words on the screen say ‘Wright Foundation for the Displaced’, and the narrator is saying something like, “Help someone bring a turnabout to their lives this Christmas!”

                “Huh?”  It’s the only intelligible response he can think of at the time. 

                “Starting a fund to help others who’re having problems with the transition, just like you.  I’m beginning to think that that Von Karma is nothing but evil, capable of corrupting anything he touches.”  She’s not really paying attention to him, not realizing what he’s thinking, but given that it’s making her see him as a decent human being again, he’s not about to complain.  And at least that’s something he can agree on, even as he’s never heard of that foundation before in his life.

                He glances at the TV again and suddenly an idea forms in his mind.  Edgeworth.  Of course they’d approach the man first, given his association, cemented in the minds of the public, with the ‘worlds colliding’ thing.  And of course the man would turn it down, uncomfortable with the association, with the limelight.  For someone who liked to show off, Miles really didn’t like the attention.  Of course Edgeworth would offer another name he thought suitable, in such persuasive language that he’d easily get his way.  Wright feels the irritation, but it’s a familiar, nostalgic sort of irritation intertwined so completely with fondness he doesn’t think he can actually separate the two.

                Still, lonely, unhappy Edgeworth is unacceptable.  He finally comes out of his own world, and the Fay’s staring at him funny.  He allows a probably somewhat scary grin come over his face, and asks Maya, “How would you like to help me bring Miles some holiday cheer this season?”

                The look of wariness instantly appears, and she’s suddenly wearing a matching smile.