One of Every Color
Epilogue
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Saiban, its characters and settings, are property of
NC-17 for adult male/male content and some violent material.
Epilogue
23rd, 2019
was time to go. He showered, cleaned up
the whiskey glasses, and after some scrounging unearthed clean sheets to cover
the bed with. He felt a little guilty
about eating Miles' food, though, and finally decided on just a ripe banana to
take with him. I'm sure he won't mind if I borrow an umbrella, too.
He paused at the kitchen
table, staring down at the extra key that had been left for him.
gesture of some kind, the way Miles had let him stay.
few moments of pleasure in between their busy lives….
don't know what to expect. But so
what? We're together now.
upon his return. They were already
rummaging through his cupboards for snacks, quite disappointed with his
selection of instant dinners and stale chips.
He managed to escape them just long enough to change his clothes, but
then they were at him again, determined to continue their "cheering
up" from the day before. When he
mentioned he would have to leave again for lunch that afternoon, they would
have none of it.
"We came all the way out
here to see you, you know," Maya told him, her fists balled at her
sides. "So you ditch us all night
and now you're leaving again?
"But…it'll be
boring,"
I'll take you and
when I get back."
Nick."
Adorable
puppy eyes.
can I argue against that?
At last
You can come with me."
The girls cheered, and busied
themselves with finding the umbrellas at the back of his closet.
lunch.
*****
It took an extraordinary
amount of courage to step through the doors of the police station that
day. Even with Maya and
guests with uneasy reproach.
as they passed. I caused a lot of trouble for the police.
One of the side rooms seemed
inordinately busy, and his curiosity drove him to glance through the open
door. A glimpse of orange prison
jumpsuit made his heart skip before he saw the identity of the thin woman wearing
it. Chassie
was seated at the center of the room, surrounded by officers and several
flashing cameras. She seemed to be
giving some kind of interview.
Her wide dark eyes darted
away from an unnerving question, and there caught sight of
He froze, as if transfixed by the accidental contract.
injustice he thought he should have felt in seeing her again.
strangely hollow.
Chassie
One of the reporters
noticed. He swung his camera toward the
defense attorney, but before he could get a single shot the door suddenly
slammed shut.
"Heh,
sorry, Pal," Gumshoe said with a shrug.
He took his hand off the handle.
"Let's not get you mixed up with them today, huh?"
*****
It was just nearing
report visitors. Miles quickly waved for
them to be brought back. He had spent
that morning up to his ears in papers, trying to make some kind of sense out of
the tiny space he'd been given as a temporary office.
cases had been lost in the fire, but he had backups and copies of all his older
cases. It was those he was most
interested in.
Voices lifted in the hall,
murmuring anxiously, just before Gumshoe appeared in the door with
rattled. It probably wasn't the best idea, asking him to come to the precinct at
a time like this, Miles thought with a frown.
on the force is happy with him right now.
But then their eyes met, and
made up for it. It was a little embarrassing.
"We're not letting Nick
out of our sight today," Maya informed him determinedly.
out for him, at lunch or wherever else."
Their devotion was charming,
at least. "That's fine," Miles
assured. "You're all invited.
Gumshoe straightened
gladly. "Sure
thing. You ready to go now,
Pal?"
"Just
about."
papers covering it. He hadn't expected
to have to do this with such an audience, and for a moment he considered
putting it off. No, I've wasted too much time already.
for a moment? It'll only take a minute."
She frowned at him, looking
rather put out, but when
gave her hand a little shake she relented.
"I suppose so. Pearly and I
will wait outside." She released
us!"
"We'll be out in a
second,"
"Look after Detective Gumshoe, won't you?"
Gumshoe grunted as he
followed the girls out of the office.
"I don't need lookin' after."
He closed the door behind
him, leaving the two lawyers alone in the office.
asked for this, Miles told himself.
braving the reporters just to meet me for lunch."
"It's okay,"
"I've got to get used to them some time."
know the truth. It sounds stupid, but…."
Miles shook his head.
against the edge of his desk.
"Gumshoe told me they've scheduled Chassie's
execution already," he said quietly.
"Yes--next week,
Thursday. Are…you going?"
"I don't know
yet."
front of Miles. "I've…never been to
one. Have you…?"
"A
few."
of course, but Miles knew the importance of closure.
"You will…?"
They both paused, hesitating
awkwardly. Miles cleared his throat
again. "The truth is," he said
slowly, "I asked you to come by because…I need your help.
train station?" The subtle
straightening of
"Yeah…."
"I've been thinking
about it," Miles related.
And I've decided that it's just not true."
we were kids. And that's why you're the
only one I can trust with this now."
declaration. Miles continued before he
could reply. "You see, I was still
wrong," he confessed softly.
"I may have won this case, but that doesn't change the fact that I
wasn't able to find the truth back then.
You were right about me--I would have put innocent people to death if
not for you. Honestly…I don't know that
I haven't already."
"Edgeworth…."
know. With the police, and…and von
Karma--"
"I know, but it's still
my responsibility. And that's why I need
your help."
Miles reached back, sliding a
pile of folders to the front of his desk.
"These are records of my cases over the last few years," he
told
the man's eyes widening in surprise as he gradually caught on.
take any new cases for a while--not until I've gone through these, and made
absolutely sure that I was right.
I…." He lowered his eyes
with a twinge of guilt. "I can already
think of a few."
"You want me to reopen your old cases?" he asked
incredulously. "Appeal
"If it
comes to that."
once more. He didn't expect
hadn't been lying--
through his atonement with him. He
hadn't been able to put it out of his mind since
meant nothing if he chose to ignore the mistakes of his past.
"I know it's a lot to
ask," Miles went on. "It'll
mean a lot of extra attention on Wright & Co. Law Offices for a while.
and…at least I can pay you well."
He smiled grimly. "It's something
I have to do."
face took on an expression of understanding.
Before giving his answer he leaned in, touching a gentle kiss to Miles'
lips.
"All
right."
determined. "I'll help you,
make up for your past together."
Miles tensed; he hadn't
expected the rise of emotion
to react. He lowered his head as his
voice grew thin. "Thank
you…." It wasn't until then that he
realized just how much it meant to him after all.
and Maya will want to help, too.
"Yes…."
the thought of eating lunch all together like this, so casually with their
friends…it made Miles feel that they were each stepping, bit by bit, deeper
into each other's world.
He smiled to himself as they
finally let go of each other, and joined their friends in the hall.