One of Every Color
Chapter 4
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characters and settings, are property of Capcom, and are being used here
without permission. This fic is rated
NC-17 for adult male/male content and some violent material.
Chapter 4
September 17th, 2019
Miles stared at the two
guests that had appeared at his front door with mixed fascination and
bewilderment. On the right was
cheap six pack; on the left was Larry, in white jeans and a pastel blue,
button-down shirt with a heart logo on the pocket, offering a wide, purple
pastry box. Miles glanced between the
two of them blankly, but was unsuccessful in reaching any explanation.
"What are you doing here?"
little. Larry chuckled and
shrugged. "I said I was coming
over, didn't I? To help with Pess!"
"I told you I bought Pess
a dog run," Miles reminded.
"You didn't say anything about coming over."
"Yeah, well, we're here
now," Larry reasoned. "You
gonna make us stand out here in the cold?"
September in
and gave in. "All right.
inside.
"Thanks, man."
"Sorry about dropping
in,"
Miles shook his head--he knew
very well what Larry was like, and it didn't do any good to make a big deal
about it. He led them down the front
hall and into the kitchen. "It's
all right. Now that you're here I guess
I could use the help."
As they reached the main room
of the house Larry gave an appreciative whistle.
entirely redone since Larry would have seen it last, during the initial move
in. There were new hardwood floors, a
simple arrangement of pale modern furniture, and a fully refurnished
kitchen. "Not as pink as I
imagined," Larry complimented.
"It's actually rather tasteful."
Miles would have replied, but
Larry's whistle alerted his small housemate, and a short, tan figure darted out
of the downstairs bedroom and headed right for
caught
"eep" of surprise when a pair of soft paws pressed against his leg.
"I don't think you've
met." Miles watched in amusement as
the red Shiba Inu licked
happily at
dog, Pess."
Larry set his box on the
kitchen table and crouched down, drawing Pess' attention away from
"Strange name for a dog," he commented.
Getting over his surprise,
greeting. "It's hard to believe
you've had him all this time, but no one knew about it until a few weeks
ago," he said. "How old is he
now?"
"Almost eight years
old. And plenty of people knew about
him." Miles retrieved a long leash
off a hook by the back door. "Just
not you."
"It's not my fault you
never mentioned him…."
Miles gave the leash a shake,
and Pess turned immediately, trotting over to his master.
latch. "So are you two going to
help or what?"
The back yard of the
Edgeworth house was narrow, but deep, with neighbors close on either side.
run about in, after living in Miles' downtown condo as a puppy, and then in
trained as he was, the open space was too tempting not to explore, leading to
more than one trip to a neighbor's to pick up the wandering Pess in the past
few weeks. With a decent sized tree on
either end of the property Miles figured a dog run would be the most convenient
and accommodating solution.
Predictably enough, Miles and
Larry lent his help to keeping Pess busy.
Although Miles could have easily done the work himself, he found early
on that he was grateful for the assistance.
Having company over gave life to the house it hadn't seen in years.
to Larry chase Pess around the yard, he was reminded of another such visit
father's face when the boys invited themselves in and insisted on seeing all of
Miles' favorite action figures.
to see how
"I always wanted a
dog,"
to be set up--the leash that would attach the horizontal wire to Pess' collar,
enabling him to run freely up and down the lawn without scampering off to visit
everyone in the neighborhood. "But
we lived in a small apartment, and my mom said it wouldn't be fair to coop one
up with us." He smiled faintly as
he snapped the clasp into place. "I
hear they have one now, though."
It was the first time since
they were kids that
"Up north.
Miles wonder if he was escaping the topic.
"Bring him over, we're all done!"
Larry led Pess over, and they
swapped his leash for the newly-fastened one.
Pess didn't seem to understand what the fuss was about, and just sat
down on his haunches, watching them with his head tilted.
the new system out, Miles shrugged.
"He'll get used to it."
The three moved back to the
house, sitting down on the wooden deck to enjoy the offerings Miles' guests had
brought. It turned out that the
"leftovers" Larry had brought with him were from his job at a small
downtown bakery, and when Miles and
"They're cupcakes,"
Miles said, not quite sure how to respond.
Inside the box, a dozen vanilla cupcakes were lined up, each topped with
strawberry icing and various colored sprinkles.
"We had a birthday
order, and ended up making too many," Larry explained.
"You asked me to bring
beer,"
knowing Larry better than his host, he looked just as baffled.
chips or something to go with it."
"What's wrong with beer
and cupcakes…?"
And thus the three old
friends sat, side by side on Miles' newly finished wooden deck, eating pink
sprinkled cupcakes and drinking
out his new leash apparatus. Miles drew
an inordinate amount of attention in simply accepting the offered
beverage. But beer was still beer, and
considering how ridiculous their chosen refreshments already were it didn't
seem worth it to be picky about brand.
"You've really done a
great job with the place,"
hadn't thought of him as a drinker, but he seemed to be doing just fine.
must have spent a lot."
"Yes, but it was worth
it." Miles watched as Pess sniffed
up and down the lawn, testing the limits of his new leash.
much this city feels like home. Despite
its flaws."
Miles felt eyes on him, and
he glanced up to find
"Nothing, nothing,"
Larry said quickly. "It's just kind
of funny to hear you talk like that."
"It's a good
thing,"
smiling in a thin, sheepish kind of way that seemed designed to elicit
curiosity. "You've changed a lot in
the last three years, you know."
"Have I?"
himself from von Karma's influence those three years ago, he had since learned
to examine his own character with a certain degree of objectivity.
reminisce, but when he did, he became startlingly aware of the transformation
gradually applied to his behavior and opinions.
It wasn't as easy to determine how his acquaintances perceived those
changes that had taken place, but it seemed, if nothing else, he had become
more pleasant company. At least, that
was what Gumshoe had once remarked to him.
"I have," Miles
answered his own question. "Not
horrendously, I hope."
Larry chuckled, and slapped
him heartily on the back. He jumped at
the unexpected contact. "
downright tolerable."
Miles rolled his eyes, and in
his effort to escape Larry's teasing caught a glance of
events of the night before. He felt a
trace of guilt over the whole affair, however unwarranted--he had said nothing
to Ayame she hadn't decided on herself.
It was still none of his business.
But those changes of demeanor
he had just been reflecting on proved themselves as a swell of curiosity came
over him. "Not all of us can be as
'lucky' with women as you, Larry," he stated deliberately.
smile from earlier a wary undertone.
"Well…."
"Huh?
at him around Miles, who was seated between them.
Ayame, did you?"
"It's not like
that,"
was quick to grab for another. "She
doesn't like the city, and…long distance doesn't work for me.
Miles watched him, suspecting
there was more to the story, but it didn't look as if
"It's a downright
shame," Larry muttered incredulously.
"Giving up a hottie like that."
"Well excuse me for getting dumped by a 'hottie'!"
from the beer.
He recalled that he'd managed to get
to. It was part of his job to get
answers out of people. But he also had a
feeling
fun at him for it. Maybe it's best to let it be.
Pess came trotting up to them
then, his ears up and steps light. The
extent of his new leash allowed him only within a few feet of the deck, and
when he realized he couldn't reach his master, he sat down with another
head-tilted stare. Pess was too old now
for them to be considered "puppy eyes" but they did the trick.
Miles smiled, and pushed to
his feet. "Well, Pess?
Pess stood, tail wagging as
his master set his beer down and approached.
When Miles was almost next to him Pess suddenly turned, and bolted down
the length of the yard. It soon became
clear that he'd left to retrieve a toy, as he was soon running back with a
length of multi-colored rope in his mouth.
*****
him into an unwanted conversation and was now bailing out.
with the rope, though, it was hard to stay annoyed with him.
over his old friend it was still strange to see sometimes, and still so
different from the face he displayed in court.
"Hey."
by nudging him with his elbow. He had
scooted closer now that Miles wasn't in between them.
He smirked dryly, and clinked
their beer cans together.
sympathy. It was the most sincerity he
expected out of Larry, though he soon realized he had offered even less when
Larry survived another romantic beating.
Larry always had a new story about a girl that had walked out on him, or
even a job he'd been fired from. It
ought to have made
Whether or not it did,
decide. "It's all right.
out anyway. I'm just glad she's home and
doing well."
"Spoken like a true
jilted boyfriend," Larry chuckled.
"Keep telling yourself that."
"Why?" Miles
interrupted suddenly. He was still
wrestling with Pess for the colored rope just a few feet away.
a resistance. "Why didn't you think
it would work?"
"Well…I don't
know."
If I'd really wanted it to work,
he told himself, not for the first or even second time, I would have fought harder to keep her.
in and out of my life."
Miles' eyes thinned slightly,
watching him, and
feel thick, steely fingers pressing into his shoulder once more.
jerk by Pess that almost toppled Miles over, causing him to divert his
attention.
"It's all right,
Nicky," Larry said brightly, dispelling whatever serious air that might
have passed between them. "You've
still got us."
"Yeah."
"I know."
Larry managed to do the
tactful thing then, changing the topic entirely.
for his instigating their meeting in the first place was so that he would have
an audience for his tales of work-related woe.
pretense of attention at all as he continued his tug-game with Pess.
his harrowing tale of the tipped sprinkle bin.
The sun had set a few minutes earlier and it was starting to get a bit
chilly. Not that
With the slight buzz from his alcohol he felt perfectly at ease, out in
the fresh air with pleasant company to spend the evening with.
this himself.
"Hey."
inane story and ruin his lazy mood. But
he only pointed ahead of them.
"Haven't seen that in a
while, have ya?"
during Larry's retellings, where they continued to battle hands against jaws
for the prized toy. Clad in simple khaki
pants and pale blue polo shirt, Miles appeared more casual and at ease than
and when Pess managed to break the rope from his grasp he laughed as he tumbled
onto his hip in the grass. Seeing his
master on the ground Pess abandoned the rope-toy to instead attack Miles with
enthusiastic licks to the face.
It was ridiculously
heartwarming.
that,"
from his stomach, as if taking personal satisfaction from his friend's
character growth. He knew Miles had
changed but he hadn't seen him laugh outright since they were children.
Larry pushed to his feet with
a yawn. "I guess I'd better get
going," he said loudly, brushing off his pants.
"We're honored."
"Having fun?" Larry
asked as he passed Miles, who had been pushed onto his side.
curiously Larry gave him a pet.
"Are you
leaving?" Miles sat up.
just then, as he took a moment to straighten his clothing and hair.
drinking."
Larry made a face.
drunk," he assured. "Besides,
I took the moped."
Miles frowned after
him--driving a car or a moped should not have mattered.
"Seeya, Larry!"
"Later!"
disappeared. As Miles finally stood,
heading back toward the deck, they heard the rumble of his moped starting up,
and soon it was a quiet hum heading down the street.
When it was clear that the
gaming had ended, Pess scooped up his rope once more, and lay down in the grass
to begin gnawing his toy instead. Miles
continued forward to rejoin
on his hands. "Yeah.
"If you say so."
Miles turned to sit down, but
when he did so his foot slipped a little in the grass.
had intended, he missed the edge and landed on the lawn just in front of
it. His poor footing and miscalculation
ended him closer to
against
There they paused, caught in
that awkward moment strangers sometimes share when they find themselves sharing
unexpected body contact. There was the
predictable tension, each waiting to see which would move and by how much.
place within a few bare seconds, and then Miles settled, seemingly content not
to correct his stumble.
decent view of the back of Miles' head.
He cleared his throat. He wasn't
uncomfortable, but it seemed a little odd to him that Miles wouldn't be,
resting so casually together.
"Um…is there any more beer left?"
"You already drank your
share," Miles reminded him. He
passed over what should have been his second can anyway.
drinker."
"It's not like I'm a
drunk,"
away, made self-conscious by the remark.
"It's just something to do in the evening."
Miles tilted his head up
slightly, and reached for the box Larry had left behind to get himself another
cupcake. "Sounds like you're used
to spending the evening alone," he noted.
Miles' uncommonly gray hair. He felt
sometimes that it was remarkably easy to speak with Miles, though he wasn't
sure why; it wasn't as if the prosecutor's demeanor was especially friendly or
welcoming in a conventional way. He was
unsympathetic, and short, and sometimes just plain rude, and yet that didn't
deter
just that there were things in his mind now he wanted to say, and Miles was
merely the closest to a serious friend he had around at present.
think to call them, you know?" He
lifted his beer, contemplating it a moment before taking a sip.
will call me."
"You shouldn't take
anything for granted," Miles advised knowingly.
"I know."
probably knows even more about that than me.
Prosecutor Edgeworth didn't seem to have any more friends than I do.
friends. Even as a kid all I had was you
and Larry. And then you left…and Larry
and I split up for college…" He
sighed, coming to the point that had really begged to be discussed.
as tightly as I did," he reflected.
"She was all I had."
Miles didn't respond except
for a quiet hum. But
breathed, and just having that--a simple, human connection--was enough to
reassure him. He still couldn't see
Miles' face, but he could see the muscles along his jaw and neck contract as he
ate what
some other high-necked attire, rendering such observations impossible.
"What about you? Have
Miles flinched, making a
slight choking noise against his dessert.
"Me?" He shook his
head--
response. "I don't think so."
"Don't 'think' so?"
"I've had lovers, of
course," he elaborated. "But
that's not the same thing. So, no, I
don't think so."
It was kind of a vague
answer, but
doors open for his chosen lady, sending her roses and chocolates and all those
other ridiculously romantic gestures…that
being fed up and irritated, and some girl running off in tears.
Edgeworth.
"So?"
had 'lovers'. How many?"
"That's not--"
"Come
like Larry.
Miles sighed, and finally turned
to face his companion with a sly grin.
"Let's just say I was a lot more popular in college than you
were."
balance on his one braced hand; he tipped to his right, nearly into Miles'
lap. Unable to account for the sudden
humor, except that it was obviously pointed at himself, Miles sputtered
indignantly and shoved him back.
"What's so funny? You don't
think I--"
"You…your face,"
effects of his drinking, and collapsed onto his back, still laughing.
Miles touched a hand to his
face, and discovered the reason for
nose he must have acquired when an earlier question caused him to jump.
away. "You must be drunk to think
that's funny," he chided.
His embarrassment only made
he finally got himself under control and was able to right himself.
'cool,' and then…and that pink…"
Miles' complexion was so
naturally pale that even a slight blush showed with perfect clarity.
"Yeah--yeah, I'm done." He
lifted his hand plaintively. "Help
me up."
Miles sighed but obeyed,
hoisting
He even put a hand on his shoulder to steady him, which caused
Maybe it was his partially intoxicated imagination, but he had the
impression that he'd felt a lot of that hand lately.
"Yeah."
finally extinguishing beyond the line of trees.
"Can you make it home okay?"
"Yeah, sure.
certainly not drunk.
some special meaning in the gesture.
"You can keep the rest of the cupcakes."
"I'm honored,"
Miles muttered, unintentionally echoing
As he glanced around the yard he had to wonder if the events of that
evening had taken place at all. It
seemed so incomprehensible that he had ended up in Miles Edgeworth's backyard
drinking like old friends. Which was
what they were, but it was still halfway impossible.
abruptly. "Thanks for listening to
my nonsense." He smiled.
Miles rubbed his nose
self-consciously. "All right.
Whether his remark was
alluding to
innocent,
At last they parted,
done earlier. He was feeling light and
rather proud of himself, for no understandable reason.
probably catch up to him eventually but that was the furthest thing from his
mind. And it wasn't until he was halfway
down the block, when his phone rang, that he even remembered Chassie Gander's
case.
into his pocket of his cell phone.
answering. "Yes?"
"Hello…Mr.
Wright." Urami's slow, gloomy voice
was enough to crumble any remaining euphoria he held after that evening.
overhear. "Good," he
assured. "I went to Hotta Clinic,
talked to the witness. Once I've talked
to Chassie again I'll be ready to file."
"So you've decided to
move forward…?"
of have to, now that I deposited that check.
"But why wasn't the clinic report introduced by her lawyers last
time? It's a pretty tight alibi."
"Dr. Hotta…has limited
credibility," Urami told him.
"There's a chance they'll think it was forged."
"But it wasn't,
right?"
"No, of course
not…"
should have known his break wouldn't last for long.
Then don't worry about that, I can handle Edgeworth's accusations."
In retrospect,
up. The tone of Urami's voice tipped
slightly, almost curiously. "About
Prosecutor Edgeworth," she said deliberately.
"Close?"
remembered some of the magazine articles Ema had passed on to him when
Edgeworth first returned to the district.
The subject of the Prosecutor and Defense Attorney's shared childhood
had caused a bit of a stir when it was first published--thankfully, that had
dropped fairly quickly. "That's not
really an issue."
"So you won't mind…if
Mr. Edgeworth is picked to prosecute again…?
He has an impressive record."
do otherwise. "I'd rather it
personally…." I should have told him already.
He's not going to be happy….
they have."
Urami was silent for several
seconds, and
could have been thinking about. "I
see," she said at last. "Thank
you, Mr. Wright, for taking this case….
I'll leave it in your hands."
"Yeah…sure."
back at him. He shrugged, shoved the
phone back into his pocket, and took another sip of his remaining beer as he
continued toward home.