Day Twenty-Five: Merry DL6-Mas
It was late morning at the Wright Anything Agency when Phoenix finally decided enough was enough and he needed to slip away for a while.
It wasn't that he was fed up of his guests company, quite the opposite in fact, but something had been bugging him all month.
He was sure the others wouldn't miss him for an hour or so - Trucy was excitedly showing Blackquill and Athena some new tricks with the aid of some of the magic props Phoenix had bought her for Christmas - Whilst Prosecutor Gavin was teasing Apollo about Taka making a home in his hair yet again much to Apollo's chagrin.
Smiling fondly for a few more minutes at this precious familiar scene, Phoenix quietly slipped his coat on before heading out of the door and onto his bicycle.
There was someone he had to see.
***
Edgeworth had had a quiet morning, and was now relaxing on his sofa with a cup of hot cocoa in his hands and Pess by his feet.
He glanced around his decorations with a slight frown. He'd put them up so late that the only people who had seen them had been Gumshoe and Kay. That almost seemed a waste. On the other hand he was no party host, nor did he wish to intrude on any gatherings that had no doubt been planned for weeks.
No, if anything, Edgeworth was just grateful that Larry hadn't tried to 'surprise' him by 'pretending' to be Santa again. He would have thought Larry would have learnt from previous years when he had worn that suit.
Gripping his cup tightly at that thought, Edgeworth went white as a sheet as he remembered that fateful day when he had been accused of Robert Hammond's murder, and all the nightmares about his father's death had increased ten fold in that moment. He remembered his insistence at telling Wright not to accept such a lost cause, and his frustration at his oldest friend doing so anyway, then the guilt as he admitted to his father's murder just as Wright thought he had made him a free man.
At the time he had truly believed that. But it was all lies, likely fuelled by being brought up in the Von Karma household. After that everything fell to pieces and he didn't know what to do anymore.
Which led to him hurting Wright again. This couldn't go on. Both of them had stated that they trusted each other at one time or another, and Edgeworth knew that to logically be the case. However it had taken a long time for Wright to admit needing help regarding losing his badge as well.
Sighing, Edgeworth looked at Pess and stroked behind her ears. "How long has it been now, Girl? It is 2030 now, so I make that... Fourteen years..." He shook his head a little. One year less than it had taken to find the true culprit of the DL-6 incident.
He winced. Why was he still spending this day practically in mourning? Yes it had been a sore spot, but since becoming Chief Prosecutor he had banished the majority of what other demons he still had left. He just could not seem to bring himself to face the others during this time.
It was then he heard his doorbell ring, and it sent his stomach lurching to the floor. If Wright had ignored his wishes and forced everyone upon him he would not be at all pleased with the man.
However as he headed over to the front door and yanked it open, he blinked in surprise as he realised that Wright was the only person present, and was standing with one hand sheepishly behind his head and the other carrying a gift.
"... You are alone?"
"Well... I wasn't going to interrupt the others fun for this, and besides I figured you may not even answer if it was just me, let alone a crowd of people. I needed to..."
As Wright trailed off, Edgeworth gripped his arm and turned to the side a little in embarrassment as he realised the other could see his Christmas display. "I am aware that it is rather over the top for decorations when I am here on my own, but Detective Gumshoe insisted that just the tree would look rather bare." Edgeworth had to admit that the other had been right in that regard, but he wasn't about to say that out loud to Wright of all people.
"Did you get Trucy's present?"
"Hmm? Ah. Yes. My Apologies Wright, I have not yet..."
"Don't apologise. It's fine. We all have months that have sticking points in them yeah?"
Grimacing, Edgeworth stepped back and invited Wright inside. Hesitant as he was to spend company with someone, he could hardly leave him out in the cold to have a conversation such as this. "... Would you like some cocoa?"
"... Thanks, but I should probably get back to the others soon. I didn't exactly tell them I was leaving."
Typical. Edgeworth managed a faint smirk to himself before rejoining Pess on the sofa and looking away uneasily as Wright joined him on the other side.
As the other simply rested a hand on his shoulder after placing the gift on the coffee table, Edgeworth took a few deep breaths. He could tell Wright was waiting for him to be ready, but he wasn't sure he ever would be. "... Who is at your place?" He hesitantly asked.
"Besides the usual? Blackquill and Prosecutor Gavin..."
Edgeworth looked back at him, his grey eyes filled with a mix of emotion. "Prosecutor Gavin came to yours?"
"Yeah, Apollo invited him last night. To tell the truth I don't think Apollo's been one for Christmas that much since..."
"Ah. Yes, of course. My apologies." Edgeworth sighed. Sometimes it was hard to remember that he was not the only one who had lost someone around Christmas time. Finally he built up the courage to say what he wished to say. "Wright, do you think me ludicrous?"
"Huh? Depends what you're talking about. I mean that frilly thing-"
"It's a cravat," Edgeworth snapped, before looking down into his cocoa mug. "No, I mean, am I being ridiculous still sitting here on my own on Christmas Day? It's been fourteen years since I was arrested. A further fifteen years on top of that since my Father was murdered. Should I not be over this by now?"
"... I don't think anyone ever gets over the loss of a parent."
Edgeworth blinked at the sincerity to Wright's voice. "I suppose that is logical, but..."
"But nothing. Just look at Athena. From what little I know it sounds like she never got on with her Mother and yet that event and the subsequent trial caused her severe trauma but also formed who she is today. And your past formed who you are today, Edgeworth. Look... I know we've had our ups and downs... but you seem to know who you are now. More so than I do even. I'm just a redeemed disgraced attorney who many probably think should have stopped practicing law by now."
"... Phoenix, you are far more than that," Edgeworth muttered, looking back at the other properly, with a genuine smile on his face. "You have created a very reputable agency with very capable employees, and not only that you have been the father to Trucy that she deserves."
He tensed as the other hugged him. "Wright, it may be Christmas but would you kindly get off!"
As the other let go, Edgeworth felt a slight pang of guilt for shouting at Wright, but as he glanced around his lavishly decorated home, he came up with how he could repay the other. "Did you say Blackquill was at yours?"
"Y-yeah, why?"
"Did he use his car?"
"I think so."
Edgeworth nodded and stood up. "I need to get changed into something more appropriate." Right now he was wearing a black suit as he normally did out of respect for his father, but it was time he fully let go of the past. "In the meantime you can phone Blackquill and get him to bring everyone and the food here. If I am going to be a part of your Christmas celebrations I am not going to have it cooped up in that pigeon hole of a place you call an office when I have an entire empty manor at my disposal."
The look on Wright's face at that made Edgeworth's entire year.
Perhaps it would be a Merry Christmas after all.