Phoenix Wright WIP - Atonement
Here's the first bit of my current fanfic. It's set in the Phoenix Wright fandom and serves as an epilogue for Godot, because he didn't get one at the end of Trials and Tribulations. HEX IF YOU'RE SKIMMING YOUR FLIST THIS IS MOSTLY FOR YOU B/C I THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY OTHER PERSON WHO PLAYS PW AROUND HERE but as usual any suggestions are gratefully received.
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The state penitentiary was a two hour train ride from the city. Phoenix didn’t know how long the journey was from Kurain Village. He admired Maya for making it every month.
This was his first visit.
It was a journey he’d never intended to make. He knew how cowardly that was, but the guilt he felt outweighed his shame. Only one thing was stronger than both of those feelings.
“Please go see him, Nick.”
During the handful of years he’d known her, he’d seen Maya grieving, in jail, on trial for murder, physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Yet somehow, propped up in bed with her arm in plaster, she looked more frail and vulnerable than any of those times.
“He doesn’t get any other visitors. Just because I fell off a ladder doesn’t mean he should be left up there alone.”
Phoenix opened his mouth to tell her no, but the words died on his lips. Before he could try again, Pearl fixed him with a glare.
“Mr. Nick! You’ll do this for Mystic Maya, won’t you?” Abruptly she looked downcast. “I’d go, but they won’t let me in.”
How could he refuse?
“Don’t worry, Pearls. You take care of Maya.” He looked at his friend. “I’ll take care of the visit.”
Phoenix leaned back in his seat, gazing out at the countryside zipping past. He wished the journey was shorter. He’d read the newspaper back and forth three times already. With nothing else to distract him, he found himself thinking about that case over and over again.
They’d won, sure, but for him it was a hollow victory. Looking at Maya, he could tell she felt the same way…and not just because her mother was the victim.
Godot was arrested after the trial. Phoenix had lingered in the defendant lobby, and watched him being led away between two police officers. They were almost out of sight when he saw the former prosecutor crumple. One of the cops shouted for a doctor. Then Edgeworth, of all people, grasped his arm and pulled him away from the door.
“Wright, let’s go.” Before Phoenix could protest, Edgeworth was leading him towards the exit.
“But -”
Edgeworth stared straight ahead. “There’s nothing you can do.”
Over the following days, Phoenix realised exactly what Edgeworth meant.
The detention centre wasn’t the cheeriest place in the world at the best of times, but today it seemed particularly gloomy.
“Nick, what’s taking so long?” Maya asked. “Why do we have to wait?”
“I don’t know,” Phoenix replied uneasily. He hadn’t told her that he’d seen Godot collapse in the courthouse a day earlier. Detective Gumshoe had assured him that Godot had recovered and been taken to the detention centre. Maybe he’d fallen ill again during the night.
Just as he was about to go and see what was causing the delay, Gumshoe poked his head around the door.
“Sorry about the wait, pal,” the detective said. “The doc’s with him. Seems he never got that wound treated.”
“He’s all right, isn’t he?” Maya asked.
Gumshoe fidgeted and avoided her gaze.
“Yeah, sure,” he replied. “The good news is it should only be another five minutes. Just sit tight, okay, pal?”
“Okay.”
Gumshoe left. A few minutes later, the heavy silence was broken by the sound of the door on the other side of the glass opening. A guard entered the room, followed by Godot. His visor was missing, and a thick gauze bandage was plastered on his face, running from the bridge of his nose and under his left eye. Maya turned away when she saw that Godot was holding onto the police officer’s belt.
“Nick, this is horrible!” she wept. “He can’t see *at all*.”
Phoenix put his arms around her.
“Do you want to wait outside?” he murmured.
Maya gulped back tears and shook her head.
“No,” she managed. “No, I need to be here.”
Phoenix hugged her tightly once and then let go. “Okay, Maya. Let’s do this.”
The police officer guided Godot to the chair and then left the room. Phoenix watched as Godot grasped the back of the chair, felt for the table, and sat down. Phoenix cleared his throat.
“Go- Armando.”
“Wright?” Godot quickly turned his head to the left. “Is that you?”
“Y-yes.” Phoenix wondered if Godot’s hearing was all right. “Armando, I want to represent -”
“Of course you do,” Godot replied, facing towards him again. His gaze was unfocused; he seemed to be staring just past Phoenix, at some point on the wall behind him. “Go home, Wright. You’re wasting your time.”
Phoenix leaned forward. “I understand why you wouldn’t want to choose me after everything that’s happened, but -”
Godot shook his head, his maddeningly arrogant smirk appearing on his face. “That’s not what I meant, Wright. I plan to plead guilty.”
Phoenix couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “That - that’s crazy! Plead guilty to murder and - they’ll hang you!”
Godot just smiled. “I know.”
“Then let us help you!” Phoenix exclaimed. “We can show the court you had no choice.”
“I’ll testify,” Maya interrupted, fists clenched in determination. “I’ll tell everyone how you saved my life that night.”
Godot looked away again, this time to the right. “By killing your mother?”
Tears began to well up in Maya’s eyes. “She…she w-wasn’t…”
Phoenix cut her off. “Regardless, she was attempting to kill Maya and you had no choice but to stop her! You might not think that counts for anything, but it does.” Godot looked to the left again and Phoenix lost his temper. “Damn it, Armando, look at me!”
“I am.”
Godot’s words stopped Phoenix cold.
“W-what?”
“With the dregs of my eyesight,” Godot explained. “That unfashionable bright blue blur - that’s you. Sit down, Wright. Your partner’s upset.”
Phoenix sank back into his chair. Maya was choking back sobs, using her sleeve to scrub at her eyes. Ashamed of himself, Phoenix felt in his pockets for a handkerchief. He found one and pressed it into her hand.
“Now.” Godot’s smirk was gone, replaced by a frown. “I’ll say this just one more time, Wright. You’re wasting your time. I already have representation.” He reached into his waistcoat pocket and pinned something to his lapel. “My attorney and I are both agreed. At the trial tomorrow, I will plead guilty.”
Phoenix sagged in his chair. “But why?” he asked helplessly. “You - you can’t just give up. There are mitigating circumstances. We could win a lighter sentence. Or get them to drop the murder charge for a lesser offence. Why are you choosing death?”
Godot smirked again. “If you can’t figure that out…” He faced forward again, sightless eyes turned towards a spot between Phoenix and Maya. “…then you’re not the lawyer Mia thought you were.”
The words stung. Before Phoenix could react, Godot called the guard.
“This visit is over.”
“Your ticket, sir?”
The conductor’s voice jerked Phoenix out of his thoughts. He fumbled in his wallet and handed over his ticket. A cursory glance and a stamp, and the conductor gave it back to him.
Phoenix looked at his watch. Another thirty minutes to go, assuming the train was on-schedule. He gazed out the window again, hoping to find a clue as to where exactly they were, but all he could see was countryside. Every second, every length of railroad track brought him closer and closer to confronting what he’d tried to bury for the past eight months.
He’d had to admit defeat eventually, but not just then. Even after leaving the detention centre, Phoenix still thought he had a chance. He’d taken Maya back home, and then left for the prosecutor’s office.
“Wright, you know I can’t discuss that case with you.”
“Please, Edgeworth.” He tried to catch Edgeworth’s eye, but the other man wouldn’t look at him. “I’m asking you as a friend.”
Edgeworth winced and then relented. “Murder,” he replied. “Armando is being charged with murder.”
Phoenix slammed both hands down on the desk. “Edgeworth, you and I both know this wasn’t murder! Maya’s life was in danger! The only way he could stop it was to attack Misty Fey! That’s justifiable homicide - or manslaughter! Not murder.”
“And the rest?” Edgeworth was in his face. “He tampered with the crime scene, moved the body, enlisted an accomplice to establish a fake crime scene, and tried to frame somebody else for the killing. Wright, he didn’t even call an ambulance. Tell me how you’re going to argue those away.”
Phoenix wet his lips and blurted out, “Temporary insanity.”
Edgeworth made a dismissive noise, threw up his hands and turned away.
“Edgeworth, he saved Maya’s life!” Phoenix shouted. “He saved her life and I - I put a noose around his neck.”
“Stop it,” Edgeworth snapped. “He’s a lawyer, Wright. The second he started shovelling away that bloodstained snow, he knew that if the truth came out, he was finished. Armando put a noose around his own neck, and what’s more, he braided the rope himself!”
Phoenix lost his temper for the second time that day. He lunged at Edgeworth, barely registering the prosecutor’s look of fright as he dodged out of the way. “You…! A man’s life is on the line! How can you be so heartless and cruel?!”
“I’m not!”
Edgeworth grabbed Phoenix by his upper arms, short fingernails digging into the rough blue material of his suit. He relaxed his grip slightly and suddenly it was almost an embrace. All of Phoenix’s fight deserted him as Edgeworth’s expression changed to one of sadness. “I’m trying to tell you it’s not your fault.”
Phoenix’s eyes stung with tears. “Edgeworth…”
“Do you hear me, Nick?” Edgeworth whispered fiercely. “It’s not your fault.”
Edgeworth’s words hadn’t been much comfort at the trial the following day. For the first time in three years, Phoenix was relegated to the courtroom gallery. Godot stood at the defence bench, the light reflecting off his gold attorney’s badge. He was wearing his visor again, the bulky bandage from the previous day replaced by a thinner one. Winston Payne was practically humping the prosecutor’s bench. Finally, a case even he could win.
“The prosecution is ready, Your Honour.”
There was no reply from the defence, and as Phoenix looked down from the gallery, he saw why. Godot was holding a cup of coffee. Phoenix watched as Godot inhaled its fragrance, and took a sip.
The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Armando! This is a court of law, not a coffee house.”
(You didn’t seem to mind when he was a prosecutor,) Phoenix thought bitterly. Not for the first time, he felt like the whole system was rigged.
“The defence begs the court’s indulgence, Your Honour,” Godot replied. “One last cup for a condemned man.”
A familiar expression of confusion appeared on the judge’s face. “Then… ” He frowned - yet another familiar sight. “Explain yourself at once!”
Godot ignored him and finished his drink. Phoenix slumped in his chair. (This is not happening! Why won’t he *fight*?)
“The defence pleads guilty to all charges, Your Honour.”
Winston Payne looked like he was going to have an accident. Phoenix buried his face in his hands, while around him the gallery erupted in astonished murmurings.
“You understand what a guilty plea means, Mr. Armando,” the judge said gravely.
“Yes.” Godot’s voice was calm - almost serene. There was a light smile on his face. Like it was just another day. Like he wasn’t signing his own death warrant.
“Very well.” The crack of the gavel rang out in the courtroom. “This court acknowledges a plea of ‘Guilty’ on behalf of the defendant, Mr. Diego Armando.” Phoenix stood up and began to edge past the other spectators, unable to bear it any longer, as the judge continued. “The defendant will be remanded in police custody until sentencing, one week from now.”
Phoenix got outside the courtroom and moved towards the wall. He pressed his knuckles to his eyes, trying to get a grip on himself.
“Wright?”
Phoenix looked up in surprise. “E-Edgeworth?” He cleared his throat and attempted to pull himself together. “I - I didn’t see you in there.”
Edgeworth looked away, nervously squeezing his arm.
“I was going to watch, but…I couldn’t bring myself to go inside,” he confessed. “What happened?”
“Armando just threw his life away,” Phoenix replied. He shook his head. “I know what he did was wrong, but…” He looked at his friend. “…intent’s got to count for something. Doesn’t it?”
Edgeworth looked at the floor. He seemed about to speak when the rest of the crowd came out of the courtroom.
“Imagine! He pleaded guilty - to murder, no less!”
“This time next year he’ll be swinging in the breeze.”
“Huh - more like five years’ time, the way the appeals process works!”
“I’m coming back next week for the sentencing. It always gives me chills!”
Phoenix sagged against the wall and rubbed a hand over his face. Tentatively, Edgeworth reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
“I could use a drink, Wright,” he suggested. “How about you?”
-^)--)~
---
The state penitentiary was a two hour train ride from the city. Phoenix didn’t know how long the journey was from Kurain Village. He admired Maya for making it every month.
This was his first visit.
It was a journey he’d never intended to make. He knew how cowardly that was, but the guilt he felt outweighed his shame. Only one thing was stronger than both of those feelings.
“Please go see him, Nick.”
During the handful of years he’d known her, he’d seen Maya grieving, in jail, on trial for murder, physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. Yet somehow, propped up in bed with her arm in plaster, she looked more frail and vulnerable than any of those times.
“He doesn’t get any other visitors. Just because I fell off a ladder doesn’t mean he should be left up there alone.”
Phoenix opened his mouth to tell her no, but the words died on his lips. Before he could try again, Pearl fixed him with a glare.
“Mr. Nick! You’ll do this for Mystic Maya, won’t you?” Abruptly she looked downcast. “I’d go, but they won’t let me in.”
How could he refuse?
“Don’t worry, Pearls. You take care of Maya.” He looked at his friend. “I’ll take care of the visit.”
Phoenix leaned back in his seat, gazing out at the countryside zipping past. He wished the journey was shorter. He’d read the newspaper back and forth three times already. With nothing else to distract him, he found himself thinking about that case over and over again.
They’d won, sure, but for him it was a hollow victory. Looking at Maya, he could tell she felt the same way…and not just because her mother was the victim.
Godot was arrested after the trial. Phoenix had lingered in the defendant lobby, and watched him being led away between two police officers. They were almost out of sight when he saw the former prosecutor crumple. One of the cops shouted for a doctor. Then Edgeworth, of all people, grasped his arm and pulled him away from the door.
“Wright, let’s go.” Before Phoenix could protest, Edgeworth was leading him towards the exit.
“But -”
Edgeworth stared straight ahead. “There’s nothing you can do.”
Over the following days, Phoenix realised exactly what Edgeworth meant.
The detention centre wasn’t the cheeriest place in the world at the best of times, but today it seemed particularly gloomy.
“Nick, what’s taking so long?” Maya asked. “Why do we have to wait?”
“I don’t know,” Phoenix replied uneasily. He hadn’t told her that he’d seen Godot collapse in the courthouse a day earlier. Detective Gumshoe had assured him that Godot had recovered and been taken to the detention centre. Maybe he’d fallen ill again during the night.
Just as he was about to go and see what was causing the delay, Gumshoe poked his head around the door.
“Sorry about the wait, pal,” the detective said. “The doc’s with him. Seems he never got that wound treated.”
“He’s all right, isn’t he?” Maya asked.
Gumshoe fidgeted and avoided her gaze.
“Yeah, sure,” he replied. “The good news is it should only be another five minutes. Just sit tight, okay, pal?”
“Okay.”
Gumshoe left. A few minutes later, the heavy silence was broken by the sound of the door on the other side of the glass opening. A guard entered the room, followed by Godot. His visor was missing, and a thick gauze bandage was plastered on his face, running from the bridge of his nose and under his left eye. Maya turned away when she saw that Godot was holding onto the police officer’s belt.
“Nick, this is horrible!” she wept. “He can’t see *at all*.”
Phoenix put his arms around her.
“Do you want to wait outside?” he murmured.
Maya gulped back tears and shook her head.
“No,” she managed. “No, I need to be here.”
Phoenix hugged her tightly once and then let go. “Okay, Maya. Let’s do this.”
The police officer guided Godot to the chair and then left the room. Phoenix watched as Godot grasped the back of the chair, felt for the table, and sat down. Phoenix cleared his throat.
“Go- Armando.”
“Wright?” Godot quickly turned his head to the left. “Is that you?”
“Y-yes.” Phoenix wondered if Godot’s hearing was all right. “Armando, I want to represent -”
“Of course you do,” Godot replied, facing towards him again. His gaze was unfocused; he seemed to be staring just past Phoenix, at some point on the wall behind him. “Go home, Wright. You’re wasting your time.”
Phoenix leaned forward. “I understand why you wouldn’t want to choose me after everything that’s happened, but -”
Godot shook his head, his maddeningly arrogant smirk appearing on his face. “That’s not what I meant, Wright. I plan to plead guilty.”
Phoenix couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “That - that’s crazy! Plead guilty to murder and - they’ll hang you!”
Godot just smiled. “I know.”
“Then let us help you!” Phoenix exclaimed. “We can show the court you had no choice.”
“I’ll testify,” Maya interrupted, fists clenched in determination. “I’ll tell everyone how you saved my life that night.”
Godot looked away again, this time to the right. “By killing your mother?”
Tears began to well up in Maya’s eyes. “She…she w-wasn’t…”
Phoenix cut her off. “Regardless, she was attempting to kill Maya and you had no choice but to stop her! You might not think that counts for anything, but it does.” Godot looked to the left again and Phoenix lost his temper. “Damn it, Armando, look at me!”
“I am.”
Godot’s words stopped Phoenix cold.
“W-what?”
“With the dregs of my eyesight,” Godot explained. “That unfashionable bright blue blur - that’s you. Sit down, Wright. Your partner’s upset.”
Phoenix sank back into his chair. Maya was choking back sobs, using her sleeve to scrub at her eyes. Ashamed of himself, Phoenix felt in his pockets for a handkerchief. He found one and pressed it into her hand.
“Now.” Godot’s smirk was gone, replaced by a frown. “I’ll say this just one more time, Wright. You’re wasting your time. I already have representation.” He reached into his waistcoat pocket and pinned something to his lapel. “My attorney and I are both agreed. At the trial tomorrow, I will plead guilty.”
Phoenix sagged in his chair. “But why?” he asked helplessly. “You - you can’t just give up. There are mitigating circumstances. We could win a lighter sentence. Or get them to drop the murder charge for a lesser offence. Why are you choosing death?”
Godot smirked again. “If you can’t figure that out…” He faced forward again, sightless eyes turned towards a spot between Phoenix and Maya. “…then you’re not the lawyer Mia thought you were.”
The words stung. Before Phoenix could react, Godot called the guard.
“This visit is over.”
“Your ticket, sir?”
The conductor’s voice jerked Phoenix out of his thoughts. He fumbled in his wallet and handed over his ticket. A cursory glance and a stamp, and the conductor gave it back to him.
Phoenix looked at his watch. Another thirty minutes to go, assuming the train was on-schedule. He gazed out the window again, hoping to find a clue as to where exactly they were, but all he could see was countryside. Every second, every length of railroad track brought him closer and closer to confronting what he’d tried to bury for the past eight months.
He’d had to admit defeat eventually, but not just then. Even after leaving the detention centre, Phoenix still thought he had a chance. He’d taken Maya back home, and then left for the prosecutor’s office.
“Wright, you know I can’t discuss that case with you.”
“Please, Edgeworth.” He tried to catch Edgeworth’s eye, but the other man wouldn’t look at him. “I’m asking you as a friend.”
Edgeworth winced and then relented. “Murder,” he replied. “Armando is being charged with murder.”
Phoenix slammed both hands down on the desk. “Edgeworth, you and I both know this wasn’t murder! Maya’s life was in danger! The only way he could stop it was to attack Misty Fey! That’s justifiable homicide - or manslaughter! Not murder.”
“And the rest?” Edgeworth was in his face. “He tampered with the crime scene, moved the body, enlisted an accomplice to establish a fake crime scene, and tried to frame somebody else for the killing. Wright, he didn’t even call an ambulance. Tell me how you’re going to argue those away.”
Phoenix wet his lips and blurted out, “Temporary insanity.”
Edgeworth made a dismissive noise, threw up his hands and turned away.
“Edgeworth, he saved Maya’s life!” Phoenix shouted. “He saved her life and I - I put a noose around his neck.”
“Stop it,” Edgeworth snapped. “He’s a lawyer, Wright. The second he started shovelling away that bloodstained snow, he knew that if the truth came out, he was finished. Armando put a noose around his own neck, and what’s more, he braided the rope himself!”
Phoenix lost his temper for the second time that day. He lunged at Edgeworth, barely registering the prosecutor’s look of fright as he dodged out of the way. “You…! A man’s life is on the line! How can you be so heartless and cruel?!”
“I’m not!”
Edgeworth grabbed Phoenix by his upper arms, short fingernails digging into the rough blue material of his suit. He relaxed his grip slightly and suddenly it was almost an embrace. All of Phoenix’s fight deserted him as Edgeworth’s expression changed to one of sadness. “I’m trying to tell you it’s not your fault.”
Phoenix’s eyes stung with tears. “Edgeworth…”
“Do you hear me, Nick?” Edgeworth whispered fiercely. “It’s not your fault.”
Edgeworth’s words hadn’t been much comfort at the trial the following day. For the first time in three years, Phoenix was relegated to the courtroom gallery. Godot stood at the defence bench, the light reflecting off his gold attorney’s badge. He was wearing his visor again, the bulky bandage from the previous day replaced by a thinner one. Winston Payne was practically humping the prosecutor’s bench. Finally, a case even he could win.
“The prosecution is ready, Your Honour.”
There was no reply from the defence, and as Phoenix looked down from the gallery, he saw why. Godot was holding a cup of coffee. Phoenix watched as Godot inhaled its fragrance, and took a sip.
The judge banged his gavel. “Mr. Armando! This is a court of law, not a coffee house.”
(You didn’t seem to mind when he was a prosecutor,) Phoenix thought bitterly. Not for the first time, he felt like the whole system was rigged.
“The defence begs the court’s indulgence, Your Honour,” Godot replied. “One last cup for a condemned man.”
A familiar expression of confusion appeared on the judge’s face. “Then… ” He frowned - yet another familiar sight. “Explain yourself at once!”
Godot ignored him and finished his drink. Phoenix slumped in his chair. (This is not happening! Why won’t he *fight*?)
“The defence pleads guilty to all charges, Your Honour.”
Winston Payne looked like he was going to have an accident. Phoenix buried his face in his hands, while around him the gallery erupted in astonished murmurings.
“You understand what a guilty plea means, Mr. Armando,” the judge said gravely.
“Yes.” Godot’s voice was calm - almost serene. There was a light smile on his face. Like it was just another day. Like he wasn’t signing his own death warrant.
“Very well.” The crack of the gavel rang out in the courtroom. “This court acknowledges a plea of ‘Guilty’ on behalf of the defendant, Mr. Diego Armando.” Phoenix stood up and began to edge past the other spectators, unable to bear it any longer, as the judge continued. “The defendant will be remanded in police custody until sentencing, one week from now.”
Phoenix got outside the courtroom and moved towards the wall. He pressed his knuckles to his eyes, trying to get a grip on himself.
“Wright?”
Phoenix looked up in surprise. “E-Edgeworth?” He cleared his throat and attempted to pull himself together. “I - I didn’t see you in there.”
Edgeworth looked away, nervously squeezing his arm.
“I was going to watch, but…I couldn’t bring myself to go inside,” he confessed. “What happened?”
“Armando just threw his life away,” Phoenix replied. He shook his head. “I know what he did was wrong, but…” He looked at his friend. “…intent’s got to count for something. Doesn’t it?”
Edgeworth looked at the floor. He seemed about to speak when the rest of the crowd came out of the courtroom.
“Imagine! He pleaded guilty - to murder, no less!”
“This time next year he’ll be swinging in the breeze.”
“Huh - more like five years’ time, the way the appeals process works!”
“I’m coming back next week for the sentencing. It always gives me chills!”
Phoenix sagged against the wall and rubbed a hand over his face. Tentatively, Edgeworth reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
“I could use a drink, Wright,” he suggested. “How about you?”
-^)--)~